LOS AGNELES.–Violating the U.S. Constitution’s “Separation Clause,” 39-year-old Oklahoma Superintendent to Public Instruction Ryan Walters guaranteed that his new order forcing Oklahoma public school teachers [5-12 grades] to teach the bible would end up in the federal courts. Walters, a born-again Christian, who graduated from Harding University Bible College, shows that the Evangelical zealotry is about face challenges in federal court. Whether that ends up in next year’s Supreme Court calendar is anyone’s guess but the controversial move serves no one in public education, dating back to Horace Mann [1796-1852], who spent much of his career advocating for federally-funded public education. Mann died before the government mandated public education for all in 1860, before the Civil War. Now Waters tries to turn back the clock imposing bible study.
Public education and popular literacy was a dicey proposition since the Constitution was signed in 1787 but, whatever public education emerged in 1860, it incorporated the principle of Separation of Church and State, since Churches dominated organized education before the government funded public education. Only a handful of states, starting in Massachusetts 1765, provided any kind of public education. Mann believed that popular literacy was an essential cog the democracy wheel of the United States, serving in House of Representatives [1848-1853] and as the first President of Antioch College in Ohio. Whatever happened to public education after Mann’s death in 1859, it was incorporated into public law, eventually spreading to every state in the union. Walters issued a memo June 27, stating that any public school teacher refusing to teach the bible could lose their teaching license.
Walters’s threats of disciplinary action against public school teachers is an outrage to the public school system and an affront what was mandated by Congress in 1860. Waters insists that public school teachers [grades 5-12] must teach the bible to show its influence on the Founding Fathers, requiring bibles stocked in public classrooms. Teachers not of Christian faith or possibly agnostic or atheist, cannot resist Walters edict without facing possible disciplinary action. With all the problems in public education today, in terms of unequal funding and quality along racial lines, Walters’s edict diverts attention away from the real needs in public education for students and teachers alike. Retaining quality teachers, upgrading benefits and salaries, and assuring the most constructive curriculum to help children meet the demands of a vastly changing world, are the top priorities.
Walters shows the kind of Evangelical zealotry that has swept the country in certain circles but is sadly irrelevant to what’s needed today in public education. “Any teacher that would knowingly, willfully disobey the law and disobey our standards—there are repercussions for that,” Walters said intimidating public school teachers who resist their basic teaching oath to keep religion out of the public school classroom. Why Walters has grandstanded in Oklahoma is anyone’s guess, attesting to the Evangelical community’s growing influence on all aspects of public life. “So we deal with that on a case-by-case basis, but yes, teachers have to teach Oklahoma Academic Standards and this is absolutely going to be part of them,” Walters said, opening the door for the Oklahoma State Department of Public Instruction to be sued into insolvency by disgruntled teachers and families.
Walters threw down the gauntlet for the Jewish Federation and Council on American-Islamic Relations, both objecting to imposing Christianity on students of different faiths, including preserving the rights of non-believers, agnostics and atheists. Walters knows the history of litigation for forcing public school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance for the clause “One Nation Under God.” What does he think is going to happen with arbitrarily imposing Christian bible study on public school teachers and students, whether it’s his personal passion or the Evangelical community. “Walters is abusing the power of the public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone else’s children,” said Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Oklahoma’s governor and legislature should intervene urgently to reverse Walter’s reckless curriculum changes and threats.
Walters has the misguided belief that the current conservative Supreme Court makeup will uphold Oklahoma’s right to violate the Constitution’s Separation Clause and allow the State Office of Public instruction to force Christian education on public school teachers and students. “There is no legal authority for a memo from the Superintendent to require content,” said the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office. Walter’s personal Evangelical zealotry eclipsed his judgment, opening up the state to unending lawsuits, eventually ending in a judicial relief in the federal courts. Walters is seriously misguided about the federal courts system, requiring 51-year-old Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and the legislature to step in quickly. “He’s helped provide a path for us to be able to do this as states,” said Walters, a twisted view of what comes with possible Trump presidency.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
