A lawsuit has been filed by a group of Oklahoma parents, teachers, and ministers to stop the state’s education official from requiring public schools to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades 5 through 12. The lawsuit alleges that this mandate violates the Oklahoma Constitution by using public funds to support religion and favoring one religion over another. The plaintiffs argue that parents should have the sole responsibility to decide when and how their children learn about religious teachings.
The lawsuit is being represented by civil rights groups, including the ACLU, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice. It also notes that the state Department of Education’s initial request for proposal to purchase Bibles appeared to be tailored to match those endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
This is the second lawsuit filed in Oklahoma challenging Superintendent Ryan Walters’ mandate, with another lawsuit filed earlier this year currently pending in Mayes County. Walters, who ran on a platform of fighting “woke ideology,” has defended the mandate by stating that understanding the Bible’s impact in the nation’s history is crucial for students. He has been vocal about his stance against what he describes as leftist indoctrination in schools. The legal battle is ongoing as the community debates the role of religion in public education.
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