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

[Social Media]

 

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 Walters has mandated that all public schools in the state teach the Bible, arguing that it is a “necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country.”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

 

 

 

[Tug]

Another grift?

[herfiehandbag]

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/YJe23fXwM1ALEA39/

[Pique Dard]

I don't live in the USA, but judging by the images of homeless people, drug addicts staggering down the street, gun murders, there are more urgent matters than buying 55,000 Bibles!

[Tug]

1 minute ago, Pique Dard said:

I don't live in the USA, but judging by the images of homeless people, drug addicts staggering down the street, gun murders, there are more urgent matters than buying 55,000 Bibles!

Its also against our constitution.FYI yes there are homeless yes there are druggies but it’s not nearly as bad as some would have you believe.

[ravip]

15 minutes ago, Pique Dard said:

I don't live in the USA, but judging by the images of homeless people, drug addicts staggering down the street, gun murders, there are more urgent matters than buying 55,000 Bibles!

Agree. If the Bible can do any good, would humanity be in this situation today - 2024 years is quite some time to show some effect IMHO

[RuamRudy]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Superintendent Ryan 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.”

 

He must be referring to the part in the gospel which King James expunged, where Jesus took his disciples to Vegas for a lads' weekend. 

[neeray]

"He further noted that it would be a criminal offense if the proposal was crafted to favor a specific bidder."  Criminal offence! That means the Trump team is 'all in', spearheaded by Trump himself.

[Will B Good]

 

 

 

 

Maybe if Trump is looking to drain the swamp he start here and refuse to sell his bibles to the State of Oklahoma (like that's ever going to happen)

[Wanderer555]

4 hours ago, Tug said:

Its also against our constitution.FYI yes there are homeless yes there are druggies but it’s not nearly as bad as some would have you believe.

On what legal basis would it be against the Constitution of the United States of America? 

[jippytum]

If they have some money left a presidental candidate has some bargain watches for sale. 

[Purdey]

Reading the Bible usually means cherry picking the bits where God looks good, or has a reason for something bad. If they taught children the segments that are unappetizing they would at least become atheist. Anyone who claims to admire and worship the biblical God has either abandoned all sense of moral judgment or has never actually read the Old Testament.

[WDSmart]

A horrible waste of money. Have a couple Bibles in the library (in the fiction section) would be okay, but not one in every classroom.

[Will B Good]

3 hours ago, jippytum said:

If they have some money left a presidental candidate has some bargain watches for sale. 

 

 

They'll be going cheap after Nov 6.....

 

 

[Eric Loh]

Amazon Black Bonded leather bible $10.76. Probably in the range of USD2-3 without the fancy leather bonding. The is grift big-time.

https://www.amazon.com/Reference-Personal-Bonded-Leather-Comfort/dp/0785215492?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjY64BhCaARIsAIfc7Ya7wibpXQFtPuu-q_7z-Sixd0hNURLI7L7_Ee4LkEt64vQYYi7vuEEaAmnhEALw_wcB

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Reading the Bible usually means cherry picking the bits where God looks good, or has a reason for something bad. If they taught children the segments that are unappetizing they would at least become atheist. Anyone who claims to admire and worship the biblical God has either abandoned all sense of moral judgment or has never actually read the Old Testament.

The most sold and least read book, isn't it online already?

[LukKrueng]

13 hours ago, Social Media said:

arguing that it is a “necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country.”

That must be a different book than the Bible I know of. How on earth anything that has happened 3000 years ago in what we know of today as the middle East had anything to do with the history of the US of A?

[Wrwest]

5 hours ago, Wanderer555 said:

On what legal basis would it be against the Constitution of the United States of America? 

On the legal basis that the US government or any legal government entities are forbidden to establish any religion on the citizens. This is a well documented historical founding principle. Any of the founders would be well aware of the religious discrimination, persecution and imprisonment that many of them personally witnessed in Europe previous to the USA founding principles. The only way to become a "people" was that the Puritans of Massachusetts, the Quakers of Pennsylvania, The Catholics of Maryland, the Church of England in Virginia and Jews throughout the colonies, were to have the individual belief as they wished but that none would be dictated for all through government.

[Wrwest]

1 hour ago, LukKrueng said:

That must be a different book than the Bible I know of. How on earth anything that has happened 3000 years ago in what we know of today as the middle East had anything to do with the history of the US of A?

I have little doubt that we would find reason to agree, however, I ask you to reflect on the fact that religious teachings heavily influenced the history of the USA and still does to this day. I tell you this only due to my having studied and taught European and American History as my life's work. I will spare both of us the vast documented materials supporting this.

[black tabby12345]

...the Bible is the world’s best-selling book...

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Very true.

5-7 billions are printed and distributed by now.