In a move viewed as controversial by many, Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters yesterday announced the purchase of more than 500 Bibles to be used in Oklahoma classrooms.
The move, which has been in the works for some time now, was made official by Waters.
According to local affiliate KOCO 5 News, the purchase of the Bibles is set for use in advanced placement government classes and the purchase is the “first in the nation Bible purchase explicitly for use in schools as an academic and literary resource,” and is the first step in placing Bibles in every classroom across the state, Walters said in a statement.
“We are focused on ensuring we get Bibles available in every classroom in our state as quickly as we can,” Walters said.
“I will take every step possible to ensure Oklahoma students have the resources they need to fully understand American history. By acting now, Oklahoma is leading the country on a path toward greater focus on academic excellence by providing critical historical, cultural, and literary context for our students. We are not going to change our history, and the Bible is a major part of that.”
According to the KOCO report, The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) said the purchase is separate from a larger purchase detailed in a “forthcoming request for proposal from OSDE that will provide Bibles as well as the Pledge of Allegiance, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution for every classroom in Oklahoma.”
The department did not disclose how much the Bibles cost and what funds were used to purchase them.
See Waters’ full announcement here:
The Bible is back in Oklahomas classrooms. We are getting our kids back on track. pic.twitter.com/6dTjZKQ4pp
— Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) November 14, 2024