The construction of the world’s largest skyscraper isn’t the only thing going on in Oklahoma right now. Ryan Walters, the state’s anti-LGBTQ+ Superintendent of Public Instruction, issued a directive in June requiring public schools to teach the Bible and the Ten Commandments. However, dozens of public school districts refuse to comply.
Walters’ directive issued the Bible’s historic, cultural, literary, and even musical influences to be taught in the curriculum of students in grades 5 through 12. His demands require classrooms to be stocked with a physical copy of the Bible, Ten Commandments, U.S. Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence. Walters has threatened to penalize “rogue” districts that don’t adhere to “immediate and strict compliance” to his directive, which induces a five-page guideline he released last month.
A lawsuit followed the same day Walters released his guidance. Joseph Price, a parent of children at Mayes County, called out the directive for violating the separation of church and state as well as the state’s rule making laws. It is the right of local school districts to choose to incorporate teachings about the Bible. In April of this year, Walters announced rules banning “pornographic material” and “sexualized content” from public school libraries. This applied to roughly 190 LGBTQ+ books. Thankfully, the state attorney invalidated Walters’s attempt.
Walters has quite the track record. It extends past his aims of inserting Christianity and censoring LGBTQ+ content in schools. In 2023, he introduced rules requiring schools to notify parents if a student mentioned wanting to alter their pronouns or gender identity. Attorney General Drummond voided Walter’s new rules, finding them unenforceable as state legislation had not authorized the rule. In addition, he has attended events hosted by the right-wing, anti-LGBTQ+ group Moms for Liberty. His appointee as Library Media Advisor, Chaya Raichik, is a notorious anti-LGBTQ+ activist with no educational experience nor residency in Oklahoma.
The Bible contains heartwarming stories of “incest, (masturbation), bestiality, prostitution, genital mutilation, fellatio, dildos, rape, and even infanticide.” Several passages support slavery and the murdering of both the LGBTQ+ community and women who have premarital sex. One notable passage from Genesis tells the tale of two daughters who conspire against their father, getting him intoxicated in order to procreate with him. Don’t forget Ezekiel 23:30, which states, “She remembered her lover with the penis like a donkey and a flood of semen like a horse.” Walters must be right. Queer novels are far too much for the youth to handle …
“Some of our worst acting districts (have) come out and say they are not going to teach history,” says Walter. “They said they are not going to teach the Bible because they don’t want that. Just because they are offended by it doesn’t mean they won’t do it. We will enforce the law, and they will be held accountable.” Piggybacking off of Walter, a spokesperson from his office comments, “Rogue, left-wing activists who refuse can leave Oklahoma and go to California.”
Some of the state’s largest districts spoke out against Walter’s demands. Schools are being legally advised to disregard Walter’s directive and refuse the alteration of their curriculum, as it may violate state laws. Defiant districts plan to stick with the current academic standards approved by Oklahoma Legislature. These standards allow schools to cover the Bible, but do not make it a requirement.
