Oklahoma school districts respond to Ryan Walter’s classroom Bible demand
A number of school districts have responded to state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ new guidelines on the teaching of the Bible in Oklahoma classrooms.
Updated: 10:12 PM CDT Jul 24, 2024
AND JASON, YOU GOT SOME DIFFERENT ANSWERS. YEAH, GUYS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ALL HANDLING THIS DIFFERENTLY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THIS IS NOT AN OPTION WHEN YOU HAVE SUPERINTENDENTS OUT ARGUING THAT THEY’RE NOT GOING TO MENTION THE BIBLE OR GOD’S ROLE, GO READ PRIMARY SOURCE DOCUMENTS AND YOU WILL SEE IT LITTERED FROM THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURY OF MENTIONS. FOR WHY ARE THEY DOING THE THINGS THEY’RE DOING TODAY? SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TELLING US HOW THEY’LL HANDLE OS THESE NEW GUIDELINES FOR USING THE BIBLE TO TEACH IN PUBLIC CLASSROOMS IN A STATEMENT, MUSTANG PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYS IN PART, QUOTE, AT THIS TIME WE ARE REVIEWING THE GUIDANCE PROVIDED TODAY AND DETERMINING HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS MANDATE EFFECTIVELY AND APPROPRIATELY. WE’RE NOT ASKING TEACHERS TO COME IN AND AND PREACH FROM THE BIBLE. WE’RE SAYING, LOOK, HISTORICALLY, IF THOMAS JEFFERSON REFERENCES AS HE DOES IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THAT THERE’S RIGHTS THAT COME FROM YOUR CREATOR, WELL, WHAT DID WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT? HOWEVER, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY WILL NOT PUT A BIBLE IN EVERY CLASSROOM, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT GAVE US THIS STATEMENT SAYING, QUOTE, IT’S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR US TO MANDATE THAT ALL CLASSROOMS WILL HAVE A BIBLE OR THAT ALL TEACHERS WILL USE IT FOR INSTRUCTION. THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT RULED THIS SUMMER THAT SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IS A MATTER OF LOCAL CONTROL. I HOPE THAT REMAINS THE LAW AND CONTINUES TO BE OUR PRACTICE AND YUKON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TELLING US THEY ALREADY HAVE POLICIES AND CURRICULUM IN PLACE FOR RELIGIOUS TEXTS. HERE’S WHAT THEY TOLD US. RELIGIOUS TEXTS CAN BE STUDIED AS HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS EXPLORING THEIR IMPACT ON SOCIETIES, CULTURES AND CIVILIZATIONS. STAFF. THERE ALSO NOTE STUDENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT RELIGIONS BY COMPARING THEIR CORE BELIEFS, PRACTICES, AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A COMPARATIVE RELIGION COURSE. STUDYING THE BIBLE, QURAN AND TORAH. BUT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT IS ADAMANT ALL DISTRICTS NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH BIBLICAL CURRICULUM IF THEY’RE NOT DOING THE STANDARDS, THEY NEED TO CORRECT THEM IMMEDIATELY, AND I’M NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY PATIENCE FOR THOSE DISTRICTS THAT DON’T DO THAT. NOW, STATE LAW GIVES SCHOOL DISTRICTS THE POWER TO DECIDE THEIR OWN CURRICULUM. PREVIOUSLY, THE AG’S OFFICE SAID THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN’T LEGALLY MAKE SCHOOLS TEACH SPECIFIC
Oklahoma school districts respond to Ryan Walter’s classroom Bible demand
A number of school districts have responded to state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ new guidelines on the teaching of the Bible in Oklahoma classrooms.
Updated: 10:12 PM CDT Jul 24, 2024
A number of school districts have responded to state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ new guidelines on the teaching of the Bible in Oklahoma classrooms.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.According to the guidelines, schools must provide a physical copy of the Bible as well as the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments as resources in every classroom.Several districts are handling the order differently despite the fact that Walters said this is not an optional request.>> Download the KOCO 5 App“You have superintendents arguing that they’re not going to mention the Bible or God’s role. Go read primary source documents, and you will see it littered all over the 17th and 18th century, for why they are doing the things they’re doing,” Walters said.Find out more about the different school districts’ responses by watching the video above.Top Headlines'Wreck a guy's livelihood': Shawnee rancher has been losing cattle rapidly and unexpectedlyState Superintendent Ryan Walters releases guidelines for teaching Bible in Oklahoma schoolsVideo shows breaching whale land on boat, throw people into oceanWhat we know about the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening CeremonyRalph Lauren goes basic blue jeans for Team USA's opening Olympic ceremony uniform
OKLAHOMA CITY — A number of school districts have responded to state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ new guidelines on the teaching of the Bible in Oklahoma classrooms.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
According to the guidelines, schools must provide a physical copy of the Bible as well as the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments as resources in every classroom.
Several districts are handling the order differently despite the fact that Walters said this is not an optional request.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
“You have superintendents arguing that they’re not going to mention the Bible or God’s role. Go read primary source documents, and you will see it littered all over the 17th and 18th century, for why they are doing the things they’re doing,” Walters said.
Find out more about the different school districts’ responses by watching the video above.
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