Oklahoma Publishes Guidelines for Incorporating the Bible in Public School Classrooms

A person reads the Bible. Ben White/Unsplash

Oklahoma has sent out guidance to the state’s public school districts on how teachers should incorporate the Bible into classroom lessons.

In guidelines issued on July 24, Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters instructs teachers to focus on the significant role the Bible has played in the development of Western civilization and American history, its value as a piece of literature, and how biblical stories inspired some of the greatest works of art and music known today.

In June, Mr. Walters told all school districts that, starting this fall, they would need to “incorporate the Bible, which includes the Ten Commandments, as an instructional support into the curriculum” across grades five to 12.

Every classroom must also have a physical copy of the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Ten Commandments, the guidelines state.

“This is not merely an educational directive but a crucial step in ensuring our students grasp the core values and historical context of our country,” the Oklahoma education chief said in last month’s memorandum.

To help teachers comply with the directive while keeping in line with the law, the July 24 guidelines ask teachers to teach the Christian sacred text “in a manner that emphasizes only its historical, literary, and secular benefits.”

“The Bible has been a key cornerstone in the development of Western thought, influencing legal systems, ethical frameworks, and cultural norms,” the guidelines read. “Teachers must focus on how biblical principles have shaped the foundational aspects of Western societies, such as the concepts of justice, human rights, and the rule of law.”

When teaching American history, teachers will need to highlight the Bible’s effect on key historical moments, such as the signing of the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence, and the speeches of leaders such as Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.

Under the guidelines, teachers must also explore the Bible’s influence on literature, including its own use of literary techniques, and help students understand biblical references and themes in not only classical literature and poetry but also modern media.

“This approach allows students to appreciate the Bible’s literary craftsmanship without delving into religious doctrine,” the guidance states.

In addition, students will learn how famous artists have interpreted and expressed biblical themes through their works. Similarly, those instructions are limited to “the cultural and historical significance rather than the religious content,” the guidelines state.

The guidelines further detail how the topic should be covered for each age group. For example, high school students are expected to discuss the ethical and philosophical ideas presented in the Bible and their influence on Western thought, while fifth graders should be using biblical stories as examples to learn basic concepts such as plot, setting, and character.

Mr. Walters said he expects “immediate and complete implementation of these guidelines” for the upcoming school year.

Over the past weeks, some of Oklahoma’s largest school districts have vowed to not follow the superintendent’s directive, saying that state law gives local districts the exclusive authority to determine the curriculum and instructional materials they use to meet the state’s subject matter standards.

Although individual school districts do have the privilege of setting curricula, it is the State Board of Education that ultimately makes those subject matter standards.

“Districts are required by state law to teach to the Oklahoma Academic Standards,” a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Education said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

“Compliance is in the best interest of Oklahoma students and is not optional,” the spokesperson added, noting that Mr. Walters has “a wide range of tools” to address non-compliant districts and that “every option is on the table to hold districts accountable.”

The July 24 guidelines didn’t specify penalties for schools and educators who fail to comply. But the spokesperson said there will soon be more guidance on that matter.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has not made any public statement addressing the legality of the new guidelines. However, when Mr. Walters initially announced that the Bible would be included in school curricula, a spokesperson for Mr. Drummond told multiple media outlets that Oklahoma law “already explicitly allows Bibles in the classroom and enables teachers to use them in instruction.”

In 2010, then-Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry signed into law a bill allowing public high schools to offer students elective courses on the Old Testament and New Testament to teach students “knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy.”

The 2010 law also requires that these courses maintain religious neutrality, accommodate students with different religious views, and not promote or disfavor a particular religious perspective.