Oklahoma school officials are pushing back against a GOP directive mandating Bible instruction in classrooms

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ NATION.

A superintendent stated that Ryan Walters’ mandate “seems more like a personal political stunt.

Nearly five dozen superintendents from Oklahoma school districts have stated they have no intention of altering their curricula to comply with Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ anti-LGBTQ+ mandate to teach the Bible in public schools.

In June, Walters issued a directive for all state districts to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into their curricula for grades five through 12. The following month, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) released guidelines on how schools should implement these changes starting in the 2024–2025 school year.

In late July, The Oklahoman reported that several of the state’s largest school districts had already refused to comply with the directive, expressing concerns that it could violate state laws. By early August, KGOU reported that at least 17 school districts across Oklahoma had announced they would not adjust their curricula to include the Bible.

The number of districts rejecting the Bible mandate has continued to rise. A recent survey by Oklahoma public radio’s StateImpact revealed that of approximately 540 public school districts and charter schools, 54 superintendents responded, with 46 stating their districts would not require teachers to incorporate the Bible into social studies or English curricula.

One respondent noted, “At best, they are uncomfortable with the mandate. At worst, they feel it infringes on personal religious beliefs and could open Pandora’s box.” Many cited state law that grants districts control over instructional materials, while others expressed concerns about violating laws by using public funds to purchase religious texts.

Despite this, Walters has threatened to penalize non-compliant schools, stating that districts refusing to teach the Bible would be held accountable. His office claims that state law mandates teaching the Bible’s historical significance, though Oklahoma’s academic standards allow for, but do not require, such inclusion.

Several superintendents criticized Walters’ directive as politically motivated. One described it as “a personal political gimmick,” while another said, “This directive is purely political and has no intention of improving education. It was designed to cause controversy and gain national attention.”

Walters has indeed attracted media attention, particularly after appointing Chaya Raichik from Libs of TikTok to a library advisory committee and facing backlash following the death of a trans teen. His anti-LGBTQ+ policies have also come under fire, with over 350 rights groups calling for his removal from office. Recently, 21 Oklahoma Republican lawmakers have even called for an impeachment investigation into Walters’ leadership of the OSDE.