Oklahoma Mandates Bible Teaching in Public Schools

[Social Media]

 

Oklahoma's top education official has mandated the incorporation of the Bible into the curriculum for all public school students aged 11 to 18. Republican state Superintendent Ryan Walters issued the directive, requiring "immediate and strict compliance" from schools statewide.

 

The decision comes in the wake of similar actions in Louisiana, where Governor John Bel Edwards signed a law directing all public schools to display the Ten Commandments. Walters described the Bible as "an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone," emphasizing its importance in understanding the foundation of the United States. "Without basic knowledge of it, Oklahoma students are unable to properly contextualize the foundation of our nation, which is why Oklahoma educational standards provide for its instruction," Walters stated.

 

Elected in 2022 on a platform focused on combating "woke ideology" and eliminating "radical leftists" from the state's education system, Walters has consistently advocated for a more prominent role of religion in public life. He argues that secularists have created a state religion out of atheism by pushing faith out of the public sphere. In a Fox News op-ed, he criticized President Joe Biden and teacher unions for replacing biblical values with "woke, anti-education values."

 

However, the directive has drawn significant criticism from civil rights organizations and advocates for the separation of church and state. Rachel Laser, head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, condemned the mandate, stating, "Public schools are not Sunday schools. This is textbook Christian Nationalism: Walters is abusing the power of his public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone else's children. Not on our watch."

 

The Interfaith Alliance, a group dedicated to protecting religious freedoms, also issued a statement denouncing the directive as "blatant religious coercion." They argued that true religious freedom means ensuring that no single religious group imposes its viewpoint on all Americans.

 

The controversy in Oklahoma is part of a broader national conversation about the role of religion in public education. Louisiana's recent law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms has already resulted in legal challenges. Nine families in Louisiana, supported by civil rights groups, have sued the state, claiming that the law violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion. The lawsuit argues that such displays "pressure" students into adopting the state's favored religion.

 

This is not the first time that legal battles have erupted over religious displays in public institutions. In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled in Stone v. Graham that a Kentucky law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in schools was unconstitutional. The Court stated that the requirement "had no secular legislative purpose" and was "plainly religious in nature."

 

The ongoing legal disputes in Louisiana and now Oklahoma highlight the enduring tension between religious expression and constitutional principles in American public life. As these cases progress, they will likely set important precedents for the future of religious education and the separation of church and state in the United States.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-07-01

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[Tug]

This needs to be squashed now!no indoctrinating kids on the taxpayers dime that’s a choice made by parents for their kids not by the government!

[mokwit]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

This needs to be squashed now!no indoctrinating kids on the taxpayers dime that’s a choice made by parents for their kids not by the government!

Likewise the teaching of woke progressiveism, Critical Race Theory and that Socialism is viable.

 

It seems that this is a reaction to what is being taught by teachers who have exceeded their mandate.

[Gweiloman]

Teaching fiction in schools. I guess it’s only to be expected considering the majority of western msm promotes fiction anyway.

[Cryingdick]

In the meantime countries like Thailand indoctrinate their youth using Buddhist values. I don't have a problem with it.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, mokwit said:

Likewise the teaching of woke progressiveism, Critical Race Theory and that Socialism is viable.

 

It seems that this is a reaction to what is being taught by teachers who have exceeded their mandate.

Critical race theory is not taught in public schools.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

40 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

In the meantime countries like Thailand indoctrinate their youth using Buddhist values. I don't have a problem with it.

The Constitution has a problem with it, people who aren’t Christian have a problem with it.

 

[Cryingdick]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Critical race theory is not taught in public schools.

 

 

 

it is a good thing we would all reject it if it was, right?

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

it is a good thing we would all reject it if it was, right?

The thing you should reject is false claims that have been debunked many times.

[stoner]

ho ho ho merry christmas. and happy easter too. 

[KhunLA]

If I had school age kids in USA, it would be home schooling.  No need for the fantasies they are teaching now in USA schools.

[bubblegum]

Doesn't really  matter, they don't really teach anything at US schools anyway.

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Critical race theory is not taught in public schools.

 

 

This study disagrees and its from 2022

Yes, Critical Race Theory Is Being Taught in Schools

https://www.city-journal.org/article/yes-critical-race-theory-is-being-taught-in-schools

 

59 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The thing you should reject is false claims that have been debunked many times.

 

[Walker88]

In a world where technology is becoming more critical to national success, it's a huge mistake to disparage science by attributing any power to some superstition.

 

Of course Oklahoma is unlikely to produce any important brains or advances, so maybe let them have their fantasies.

 

The argument that the Bible or any fantasy text creates morality is silly. Civilization creates morality, as non-psychopathic people inherently understand what behaviors lead to success and survival. Superstitions are only left with creating silly rules, like not eating pork, dressing females like giant eggplants, praising and thanking some very needy skydaddy, etc.

 

There won't be any more nor less murder and stealing if people absolutely accepted there are no deities, no souls or spirits, no afterlife. I don't try to behave because I fear some eternal punishment or reward, but rather because it's simply the right thing to do. Do unto others....is not Biblical; it's common sense.

[mokwit]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The thing you should reject is false claims that have been debunked many times.

Ah yes the old Soviet tactic "this has been debunked/this research has been discredited" without evidence to support. As someone who is always demanding links from other I am surprised you did not post links showing how each and every instance has been debunked.

 

A July survey by EducationWeek found that barely a year after the murder of George Floyd by a Minnesota cop, 8% of K-12 teachers said they have taught or discussed CRT with students; the figure for teachers in urban schools is much higher: 20%. 

Meanwhile, the Association of American Educators found in July that 4.1% of teachers were actually required to teach critical race theory, and 11% said that teaching CRT should be mandatory. 

If those percentages hold true for the nation’s estimated 2 million secondary school teachers in public and private schools, that would translate to more than 150,000 middle- and high-school teachers who teach or discuss CRT. 

“Our curriculum is deeply using critical race theory, especially in social studies, but you'll find it in English language arts and the other disciplines,” Detroit Public Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said at a Nov. 9 board of education meeting. “We were very intentional about creating a curriculum, infusing materials, and embedding critical race theory within our curriculum.”

https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=407991

Seems there have been instances of it being taught.

California it seems allows it, but does not mandate it.

 

https://www.csba.org/-/media/CSBA/Files/GovernanceResources/EducationalEquity/CriticalRaceTheory_FAQ_7-1-2021.ashx

 

How is CRT related to California’s Ethnic Studies
Model Curriculum?
The state’s model curriculum is intended to provide guidance to school districts
and county offices of education. It does not require specific concepts — such
as critical race theory — be incorporated, should an LEA decide to offer an
ethnic studies course.
In fact, the only references to CRT in the model curriculum are outlined below:
In Chapter 3, “Instructional Guidance for K-12 Education,” under “Useful
Theory, Pedagogy, and Research” in the Approaches to Ethnic Studies section,
the model curriculum recommends that teachers and administrators should
“familiarize themselves with current scholarly research around ethnic
studies instruction, such as critically and culturally/community relevant and
responsible pedagogies, critical race theory, and intersectionality, which are
key theoretical frameworks and pedagogies that can be used in ethnic
studies research and instruction.” [emphasis added]
CRT also appears in a footnote in this section along with definition of the
phrase: “’Critical race theory (CRT) is a practice of interrogating race and rac-
ism in society. CRT recognizes that race is not biologically real but is socially
constructed and socially significant. It acknowledges that racism is embedded
within systems and institutions that replicate racial inequality — codified in law,
embedded in structures, and woven into public policy.’ Janel George (2021).
“A Lesson on Critical Race Theory.” American Bar Association.”

Edited yesterday at 03:18 AM by mokwit

[Dionigi]

Good teach them all about gods favourite Lot giving up his wife and daughters to a mob for rape and later having his daughters get min drunk and having sex with him. Teach them how this loving god tells his people to slaughter every man woman and child and all their livestock. Teach them how gods profits kill a group of children for making fun of him. Teach then how god slew all the first born of the Egyptians even after Pharaohs capitulation. Lots more horrible and prejudiced in there to put them off for life.

 

[Brian Hull]

The Old Testament is the greatest load of garbage that has ever been written. From the very beginning, Genesis is full of ridiculous impossible nonsense that no intelligent 6 year old kid would believe unless he had been brainwashed by his parents or the religious witchdoctors. How can humans be so advanced in science and technology but so blind to religious stupidity.

[WDSmart]

Despicable! 

[klauskunkel]

10 hours ago, Social Media said:

Governor John Bel Edwards signed a law directing all public schools to display the Ten Commandments

11. Thou shalt not flip the bird to state power

[Eric Loh]

Happen to chance upon this headline. 
 

'War On Education': Taliban Converting Secular Schools Into Religious Seminaries

[Brn2Trvl]

6 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

In the meantime countries like Thailand indoctrinate their youth using Buddhist values. I don't have a problem with it.”

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.

[spidermike007]

Reminds me of a saying from Cory Booker. "Before you speak to me about your religion, first show it to me in how you treat other people; before you tell me how much you love your God, show me in how much you love all His children; before you preach to me of your passion for your faith, teach me about it through your compassion for your neighbors". 

 

So much false piety out there, both in America and in Thailand. 

Edited yesterday at 07:25 AM by spidermike007

[wwest5829]

9 hours ago, mokwit said:

Likewise the teaching of woke progressiveism, Critical Race Theory and that Socialism is viable.

 

It seems that this is a reaction to what is being taught by teachers who have exceeded their mandate.

Feel free to argue that. The issue at hand is Separation of Church and State. Not government entity is to impose religion.

[wwest5829]

6 hours ago, stoner said:

ho ho ho merry christmas. and happy easter too. 

Ironically, both are great examples of the blending of earlier pagan beliefs into the latter founded Christianity. Original timing of both tied to earlier pagan celebrations. Study of history allows us to have greater understanding of our own times.

[mokwit]

2 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Feel free to argue that. The issue at hand is Separation of Church and State. Not government entity is to impose religion.

I think you misunderstood me, I was saying just as schools should not force religion on pupils, likewise they should not force the teaching of woke progressiveism, Critical Race Theory and that Socialism is viable on pupils.

[wwest5829]

3 minutes ago, mokwit said:

I think you misunderstood me, I was saying just as schools should not force religion on pupils, likewise they should not force the teaching of woke progressiveism, Critical Race Theory and that Socialism is viable on pupils.

I was responding to the post subject which is imposing religious teachings in the public schools. Feel free to post a separate subject dealing with the items you mention. I’m trying to stay on the subject presented.

[mokwit]

28 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

I was responding to the post subject which is imposing religious teachings in the public schools. Feel free to post a separate subject dealing with the items you mention. I’m trying to stay on the subject presented.

Disagree, especially as the mandating of religious teachings is seemingly in reaction to the teaching of  "woke ideology" and "radical leftists". Accordingly I think it is appropriate to broaden the discussion to include imposing political teachings, as the subject is REALLY indoctrination in schools. If you have an opposing Ideology and theology then it is appropriate to discuss both as one is pushing against the teachings of the other, rather than just discuss the one that suits one sides agenda.

 

You are free to interpret the subject as you see it, but others are free to interpret it as they see it and not be forced to accept your interpretation, especially as it is wrong. Accordingly, I will post according to my interpretation, not yours.

 

Edited yesterday at 09:16 AM by mokwit

[NativeBob]

nice skirt. is it allowed in public school?

[mokwit]

6 minutes ago, NativeBob said:

nice skirt. is it allowed in public school?

Thai university students used to interpret their uniform as a 12 inch miniskirt and a blouse two sizes too small. Prayuth Govt put a stop to that.

[placeholder]

6 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

This study disagrees and its from 2022

Yes, Critical Race Theory Is Being Taught in Schools

https://www.city-journal.org/article/yes-critical-race-theory-is-being-taught-in-schools

 

 

"We began by asking our 18- to 20-year-old respondents (82.4 percent of whom reported attending public schools) whether they had ever been taught in class or heard about from an adult at school each of six concepts—four of which are central to critical race theory."

 

A survey based on an blatantly flawed methodology since the questions suggest an answer. The proper questions would have been an open ended one:  Where did you learn that etc...?