In a significant policy shift, Oklahoma’s new public schools superintendent, Lindel Fields, has announced the revocation of a controversial mandate requiring schools to include Bibles in classrooms. The previous directive, implemented by former Superintendent Ryan Walters, sought to integrate the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades 5 through 12.
Background of the Mandate
The mandate issued last year faced immediate backlash from civil rights organizations and sparked a lawsuit involving parents, teachers, and religious leaders. This lawsuit is currently awaiting a decision from the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Following Walters’ resignation to pursue a private sector role, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Fields to take over the superintendent’s position.
Superintendent’s Statement
In a formal statement, Fields clarified that he has “no plans to distribute Bibles or a Biblical character education curriculum in classrooms.” Fields emphasized that decisions about incorporating the Bible into educational practices should rest with individual school districts. He also noted that allocating taxpayer funds for Bibles is not a priority.
Response to the Reversal
Jacki Phelps, an attorney with the Oklahoma State Department of Education, plans to inform the court about the decision to revoke the mandate and intends to seek the dismissal of the ongoing lawsuit. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs expressed encouragement at Fields’ decision and look forward to discussing next steps.
Community Impact and Compliance
- Many school districts in Oklahoma had opted against complying with the original Bible mandate.
- Fields believes educational choices should be made at the local level, allowing districts to determine their own curriculum.
- The decision reflects a trend towards minimizing state-level mandates in education.
Previous Superintendent’s Actions
Ryan Walters’ administration focused on eradicating what he termed “woke ideology” from classrooms, including efforts to ban specific books from libraries. Furthermore, Walters announced initiatives to distribute Bibles in schools in collaboration with country music singer Lee Greenwood.
Despite the legislative panel’s refusal of his $3 million funding request for this initiative, Walters continued to push for religious materials in schools. His tenure also involved introducing social studies standards aimed at addressing conspiracy theories related to the 2020 presidential election, although these standards are currently on hold due to ongoing legal challenges.
Future Review Plans
Following the mandate’s revocation, the Oklahoma State Department of Education plans to review all past directives issued during Walters’ time. This includes examining requirements for teacher job applicants from specific states to take an ideology exam.
The focus now is on ensuring clarity and coherence in education policy moving forward.
