Oklahoma Schools Ordered to Incorporate Bible Education

On June 27, 2024, the Superintendent of Oklahoma’s state schools sent a letter to all districts, providing very clear discussions about using the Bible in classroom discussions. According to the Superintendent, the Bible should be viewed as a source of instruction support and an important historical document. All grades from 5 to 12 have been ordered to follow this mandate for Bible education. 

This rule is expected to go into effect at the beginning of the next school year. The Superintendent claims that he has the authority to make this change according to Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which oversees all public education in the state. It states that the Superintendent has the authority to decide which instruction materials and textbooks should be used. 

The Superintendent also reminds the public that schools were already authorized to use the Bible as an instructional tool – and this freedom has been in effect since 2019. However, one might argue that there is a major difference between allowing Bible-based education and mandating it. 

Is Mandated Bible Education Constitutional?

It remains to be seen whether this will be struck down by the Supreme Court. There is a clear argument against Bible education in public schools, as the Constitution states that there shall be no national religion. Courts have long interpreted this to mean that no public funds should ever go toward religious education – and that public schools should not engage in religious teachings. 

The Oklahoman reminds readers that the state’s population is wary of these issues, and it voted against the possibility of using taxpayer money for religious teachings. The Superintendent seems to be leaning heavily on the Bible’s status as a “historical document” rather than a set of religious teachings. While it is true that the Bible played an important role in the history of the Western world, it may be difficult to avoid its religious connotations. It may also be challenging to use the document in a history lesson, especially since many of the events described in the Bible do not appear in any other historical documents. 

Oklahoma is not Alone

The Superintendent in Oklahoma wrote that the Bible is “a cornerstone of Western civilization, along with the Ten Commandments.” This mention of the Ten Commandments is probably no coincidence. Louisiana has just taken a very similar move, mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in all schools throughout the state. Various observers state that this move will also be deemed unconstitutional, and similar efforts have failed in the past. In addition, parents in Louisiana are already suing to stop this from happening. 

Perhaps the most vocal critics are non-Christian parents, such as Jews or Muslims. These individuals may not feel comfortable with Bible education that omits the beliefs and interpretations of their own religions. In the end, this question will probably be left up to the Supreme Court. It goes without saying that the Supreme Court of the United States has made some very interesting decisions over the past few years, and anything is possible. 

The Goal of the Universal Life Church’s Blog

Each week, the Universal Life Church’s blog focuses on documenting the most noteworthy cases involving the required separation between church and state, free speech, LGBTQ+ rights and religious discrimination. Despite required Constitutional separation, many fear that the Supreme Court’s current majority could erode these rights. Our blog focuses on describing matters in a way that objectively examines both sides and which can be easily understood by readers.