A group of petitioners in Oklahoma, including religious leaders, public school parents, and teachers, have filed a lawsuit against the State Department of Education (SDE) demanding the rescission of the Bible Education Mandate issued by Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters. The group argues that the mandate is unlawful and infringes upon parents’ rights to direct the religious and moral upbringing of their children. The lawsuit claims that the mandate violates state law on government agencies’ passage of rules and regulations. Among the petitioners is Rev. Dr. Lori Walke, who believes that mandating a specific religious text in schools promotes one set of religious beliefs over others.
Cortney Cunningham, a fifth-grade teacher at an Oklahoma public school and another petitioner on the lawsuit, would be forced to teach a religion she does not subscribe to due to Walters’ mandate. The lawsuit states that promoting one particular religion over others in the classroom would worsen exclusionary social dynamics and impair the ability to create an open, engaging educational environment. Several other petitioners filed on behalf of their children who attend public schools in Oklahoma. The SDE, at Walters’ directive, has requested to purchase 55,000 Bibles for public schools to help classrooms meet the requirements of the mandate, costing $3 million in state funds. Walters had initially requested that the Bibles include historical documents like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
The SDE’s request for Bibles has been amended, no longer requiring historical documents to be included in the religious texts. Walters has stated that the Bible will be used in classrooms due to its historical significance throughout the nation’s history. He has faced criticism, with some accusing him of catering to a specific organization through this mandate. The lawsuit filed against Walters, the SDE, and the Oklahoma State Board of Education aims to prevent the state from enforcing or advancing the mandate. Petitioners argue that the mandate hinders parents’ ability to direct their children’s religious and moral upbringing and violates state regulations on the passage of rules and regulations by government agencies.
Walters has defended his decision to mandate the teaching of the Bible in public schools, stating that it is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone. He has warned that teachers who refuse to teach the Bible could risk losing their teaching license. The lawsuit seeks to challenge Walters’ mandate on the grounds that it promotes one specific religion over others and interferes with parents’ rights. The lawsuit also questions the legality of Walters’ issuance of the mandate without a provision for notice or a comment period as required by state law. The plaintiffs in the case represent a diverse group of individuals, including teachers, parents, and religious leaders who oppose the mandate for various reasons.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Bible Education Mandate, Walters remains steadfast in his decision to implement the measure in Oklahoma’s public schools. He has accused the media of spreading misinformation and attempting to hinder his efforts to include the Bible in the curriculum. The lawsuit filed by the petitioners seeks to overturn the mandate and prevent the state from enforcing it. The outcome of this legal battle will likely have far-reaching implications for the relationship between religion and public education in Oklahoma. As the case unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the courts rule on this contentious issue and what impact it will have on the broader debate over religion in public schools.
