Parents, teachers, clergy sue Oklahoma over Bible curriculum

A joint lawsuit filed against the Oklahoma Department of Education alleges that the new state requirement for teachers to use Bibles as a classroom resource violates state law. Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters introduced a policy in June requiring teachers to include a curriculum focused on how the Bible and its teachings shaped Western societies, according to the lawsuit. Teachers were required to highlight Biblical influence on history and literature, along with famous works of art that were Biblically inspired. Walters also planned to purchase $3 million in King James Bibles as a teaching resource in classrooms, according to the lawsuit.

What’s so bad about teaching on the Bible and its historic influence? Over a dozen teachers, clergy, and parents of students alleged the new policy would inhibit a parent’s ability to direct the religious and moral upbringing of his or her child. Students would also struggle with teachings that contradicted their own beliefs, according to the lawsuit.

Why would clergy take issue with public schools teaching the Bible? Rev. Lori Walke, minister at the Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, is the prime petitioner. She took issue with taxpayer funds being used to support sectarian choice of teaching on the King James Bible. Translating original Biblical manuscripts requires theological choices and public schools should not be forcing a singular translation on students, according to the lawsuit. Walke objected to her taxes being used to spread what she characterizes as harmful misconceptions baked into the King James Bible, including misleading gendered language about God, sexuality, and gender roles, the lawsuit said.

A practicing Catholic teacher also filed in the joint suit, alleging that the state was forcing him to teach a form of Christianity he did not subscribe to. The Bible contains many confusing concepts that are not age-appropriate for students, and the teacher insisted he was not equipped to teach them.

Why do parents object to the mandate? Many parents argued that the policy interfered with their right to direct and control their child’s moral and religious upbringing. Several parents worry the requirement to teach the Bible will hinder their child’s freedom to explore different religions without pressure from authority. The state’s new mandate would promote one particular faith and thus undermine a child’s exploration of religious concepts in an open, evenhanded environment, the lawsuit alleged. The lawsuit detailed concerns from another mother that the curriculum would harm her relationship with her child. Previous exposure to Christianity led her child to fear their mother would go to hell for her pro-LGBTQ beliefs, and more Biblical exposure could worsen this, according to the complaint. A Native American mother also said the new mandate threatened to revive the historic religious proselytization of Native Americans in Oklahoma, the lawsuit alleged. Another parent took issue with the content of the Bible, alleging it endorsed slavery, discrimination, infanticide, and extreme violence.

An agnostic teacher made a similar arrangement, alleging she could not teach the content in good conscience because of what she characterized as the Bible’s religious endorsements of violence and patriarchy, according to the lawsuit. Promoting one religion over others would cultivate an exclusionary dynamic in her classroom, she added. Several teachers said they felt threatened by Walter’s communications to teachers about the enforcement of the new policy. Oklahoma’s Education Department will use every means necessary to ensure Oklahoma educators comply with the new standards, according to a press release quoted in the lawsuit. If administrators don’t like it, they can teach in California because we’re making sure history is taught to Oklahoma students, Walters said in a late July interview on Fox and Friends.

What is the lawsuit requesting? The lawsuit requested the court to make the policy unenforceable and issue an injunction, plus cover the plaintiff’s attorney fees.

How is the education department responding? Oklahomans will not be bullied by the radical leftists who hate our nation’s founding principles, according to a statement from Walters reported by The Christian Post. Understanding how the Bible impacted our nation from a historical and literary context was the norm in America until the 1960s, the statement continued. It's not possible to understand American history and culture without understanding the Bible, he added. Walters was proud to bring the Bible back to the Oklahoma classroom and did not plan on backing down to mob intimidation, the statement concluded.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ report on parents appealing a ruling in a similar lawsuit aimed at protecting students from LGBTQ-themed books.