Oklahoma’s Controversial Plan to Purchase 55,000 Bibles for Public Schools

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The state of Oklahoma is moving forward with a plan to buy 55,000 Bibles for its public schools, sparking controversy due to the specifications laid out in the proposal. These Bibles must include key U.S. founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and they must be leather-bound or use a “leather-like” material. Perhaps most importantly, they must not include any commentary or study guides. While the Bible is the world’s best-selling book, few versions seem to meet these specific requirements. One of the few Bibles that does fit is the “God Bless the USA Bible,” endorsed by former president Donald Trump, retailing for $60.

 

In March of this year, Trump, who is again the GOP presidential nominee, gave his endorsement to this particular Bible, which he profits from through a licensing agreement. This has led to some criticism as many suspect that Oklahoma's public schools may end up purchasing a significant number of these Trump-backed Bibles, fueling concerns of personal financial gain for the former president.

 

The push for Bibles in Oklahoma schools stems from a larger movement spearheaded by Schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. Walters has mandated that all public schools in the state teach the Bible, arguing that it is a “necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country.” Additionally, Walters has advocated for the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms and supported the idea of a state-funded Catholic charter school, a plan that the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional.

 

However, not all school districts are on board with these changes. Some have expressed opposition, while the Oklahoma Supreme Court previously ruled that decisions about educational content should be made locally. Despite this, Walters has pushed forward, releasing a request for proposals (RFP) to supply Bibles to schools across the state.

 

Walters has requested $3 million from the state legislature to fund this Bible initiative. However, he has also claimed that he already has $3 million within his department’s budget that could be used to purchase the Bibles. Should Oklahoma proceed with purchasing 55,000 copies of the Trump-endorsed Bible at its current retail price, the cost would exceed the available funds, totaling approximately $3.3 million.

 

The specifications for the Bibles have drawn scrutiny, with critics arguing that they are tailored to favor Trump’s Bible. The state education agency has not directly addressed these concerns. Dan Isett, a spokesman for the agency, stated that “Superintendent Walters has committed the agency to an open and transparent RFP process, consistent with the norms for state procurement, that will be adequate to meet the needs of Oklahoma classrooms.” He further added that there are “hundreds of Bible publishers” and the agency anticipates “robust competition for this proposal.”

 

The bid documents require that the Bibles be the King James version, contain no commentary, and include several key American texts such as the Pledge of Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence. The stipulation that the books be bound in leather or a leather-like material is for “durability,” according to the posting, although it is unusual for school books to require leather binding.

 

One point of contention is that Walters has ordered 55,000 Bibles, while Oklahoma only has around 43,000 classroom teachers, and only a fraction of them teach history or literature. Critics have raised concerns that Walters, in advocating for this particular purchase, may be attempting to support Trump financially, potentially with the hope of securing a position in Trump’s administration if he wins the presidency again. State Rep. John Waldron, a Democrat, commented, “Pretty clear it’s designed to buy Trump Bibles.” He further noted that it would be a criminal offense if the proposal was crafted to favor a specific bidder. Regardless, he suggested there could be political advantages for Walters in helping Trump earn money, remarking, “That buys him access on the national stage.”

 

While Walters continues to push his vision of Bible-centered education in Oklahoma, critics argue that the move is less about historical literacy and more about advancing a political and religious agenda. With questions about funding, transparency, and the role of religion in public schools, this initiative is likely to remain a flashpoint for debate.

 

Based on a report from WP 2024-10-07

 

 

 

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