Oklahoma has taken a decisive step in educational reform. All schools in the state must now incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into their curricula. This mandate took effect immediately. It followed a memorandum from Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters.
(Photo : Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez)
Sweeping Curriculum Changes
The changes announced will be far-reaching. Oklahoma classrooms from grades five through twelve will include texts traditionally reserved for religious or private education. The Bible will become a staple in public education, serving as a teaching tool in every classroom.
Superintendent Ryan Walters emphasized the text's importance. He stated it is a "foundational document" for the U.S. Constitution and the nation's birth. His stance is that a complete understanding of Western civilization and the American legal system hinges on knowledge of these documents.
Legal and Educational Standards Alignment
Oklahoma's education directive aligns with standards outlined in May 2019. The mandate follows similar legislative moves in Louisiana affecting classroom displays of the Ten Commandments. Despite the Louisiana law facing lawsuits from parents and civil rights organizations, Oklahoma is moving ahead with its new curriculum requirements.
The Superintendent underscored the Bible's historical and cultural significance. He maintained that students must study it to properly understand our nation's foundation. This educational step is touted as crucial for imparting core values and context.
Reactions to Curriculum Changes
Reception to the Oklahoma directive has been mixed. The Interfaith Alliance, an organization dedicated to religious freedoms, signaled its opposition. It referred to the move as blatant religious coercion with no place in public schooling. They argue the directive threatens to impose a singular religious perspective on all students.
Meanwhile, a potentially landmark court ruling has influenced the Oklahoma educational landscape. Plans for the country's first publicly funded religious charter school were halted after Oklahoma Supreme Court justices ruled against the contract with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, stating that a public charter school must be nonsectarian.
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Response to Recent Court Ruling
Superintendent Walters has responded vociferously to the ruling. He criticized the decision as one of the worst by the state Supreme Court. Walters expressed his commitment to fighting back for parental choice in education. His push for an expansive range of schooling options includes public, charter, and private institutions.
ACLU's Stance on Public Charter Schools
The American Civil Liberties Union has praised the court's decision concerning St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. They argue that charter schools, as public entities, must remain secular and open to all students without discrimination. The ACLU has asserted that a school planning to discriminate and promote one religion cannot operate within the public charter school framework.
The education landscape in Oklahoma is set to transform significantly. Including religious texts in public schooling will stir continued debate and legal scrutiny. As Oklahoma pushes forward with this directive, the ongoing discourse on education and religious expression remains ever-vibrant.
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