Earlier this year, we wrote about Oklahoma's education head mandating that the Bible be put in every public school classroom statewide.
At the time he issued the Bible order, Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, assured the public that the Bible mandate would not put a strain on school budgets. Supporters suggested that Bibles could be donated by local churches, for example. Apparently, that plan has since gone out the window – Walters now wants Oklahomans to foot the bill.
Not only that, but Walters’ quest to get a Bible in every classroom has a hefty price tag of $6 million. The big question: should Oklahoma taxpayers pony up?
The 6 Million Dollar Plan
The seven figure amount was reportedly requested by Walters during a recent budget meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education.
“This would give us the ability to utilize $6 million in less than two years to ensure that the Bible hasn’t been driven out of Oklahoma classrooms,” he stated during the meeting. “That would be a significant step for the state of Oklahoma to ensure that we’re not allowing the left to censor American history.”
Walters said he wants to use the taxpayer funds to purchase brand new, commentary-free King James Version editions of the Bible. Interestingly, he added that Bible versions including U.S. historical documents, like the Constitution, would also be suitable.
Some Reddit users found this stipulation strange, as the U.S. Constitution is not typically included in the Bible.
In the r/oklahoma subreddit, one user put forward a possible explanation:
"It sounds like he's trying to purchase those Bibles that Trump was hawking a few months back. I've never seen a Bible with "other key historical documents like the US constitution."
As a Christian, it really bothers me that 1) the US constitution is being snuck into what I consider a sacred text and 2) that the state is forcing my religion on someone else."
State Rep. Mickey Dollens echoed this theory, noting that, "Conveniently, the 'Trump Bible' is the King James Version and includes the U.S. Constitution."
Regardless of where the texts are being sourced, there was also some sticker shock at the biblical price tag. According to Ballotpedia, in 2022 Oklahoma had 41,323 public school teachers. Running some quick math, spending $6 million dollars to put a Bible in each teacher's classroom would mean a cost of $145.20 per Bible.
Some say that's an outrageous amount to pay.
Speaking of the Constitution...
Is Oklahoma's plan legal? The issue very well could end up in court. But for now, Walters insists that the policy has nothing to do with religion. He says every public school teacher in the state should have a Bible in the classroom because it’s a “historical document” important to American history. In other words, its religious content is secondary, and is supposedly not intended to influence the beliefs of children.
But critics say that argument doesn't hold water. They assert the Bible mandate is a clear violation of separation of church and state – especially when using millions in taxpayer funds to pay for it.
We posted a local news clip covering the story:
“Oklahoma’s constitution specifically says that the state Board of Education cannot do what they are trying to do,” explained State Sen. Mary Boren. “The Oklahoma provision in our Constitution establishes a higher bar of separation of church and state.”
Rep. Dollens added: “this is what it looks like when Christian nationalism attempts to take over public education.”
“Public schools are not Sunday schools,” Dollens said, describing the Bible-in-every-classroom campaign as “a Christian nationalist crusade to impose their religious agenda on everyone else's children.”
However, in a state where nearly 80% of residents identify as Christian, it's yet to be seen how much pushback there will be to the policy. If it stands, Oklahoma taxpayers of every faith (and no faith at all) will likely be footing the bill to put the Holy Bible in classrooms across the state very soon.
What is your reaction?
55 comments
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Clay Serenbetz
This is a presumptions and ineffective expenditure of education dollars. I personally and sincerely doubt that the presence of a Bible in a classroom will better prepare a child to excel in the competitive modern world, which instead requires knowledge of actual science, not 2,000+ year old superstitions.
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John P Maher
SMARTEST QUOTE IV"E HEARD in MANY MANY MOONS, VERY REFRESHING !
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Paula Copp
The money would be much better spent in salaries for the front line educators! Public schools should NOT have bibles!
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Rev. BH
Or school lunches for poor kids.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
Oklahoma ranked #49 in US for education
$6 million dollars for bibles divided by 41,323 teachers equals $145 per bible...instead of lunches or school supplies
2010 OK law allows bible to be taught as an elective, it "also requires that the class maintain religious neutrality, accommodate other religious perspectives of students and not promote or disfavor a particular religion or lack of religious belief or run afoul of state and federal constitutions. That last part is a requirement for the law to be valid, as Oklahoma’s constitution explicitly prohibits taxpayer money and resources from being spent for religious purposes or instruction."
The OK's superintendent of schools is willfully violating OK state law and, more importantly, OK state constitution because...goD
OK is being used as a testing ground by kkkristofascist nationalist far right goppers to advance their agenda of turning the US into a kkkristofascist theocracy
See recent article (NYT) about two texas billionaires who are working on making texas a theocracy...first.
Given the rise of donalph trumpler and the kkkristofascist rise and their contamination of the Supreme Court we will see more and more of these attempts to inculcate children (first) into kkkristinsanity and then nationwide/federally starting first by declaring the US a kkkris chn nation and then making it a naitonal religion.
[It usually takes anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days before my views are either approved or censured]
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CB Cuff
You make good points. Additionally, honest tax payers in Oklahoma should not be punished for rejecting this absurd suggestion. Ryan Walters needs to sit out a permanent detention.
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Robert Hauck, MD, FAAP
Yet another assault on the separation of religion and government, an essential requirement for the survival of a democracy.
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Russel A. Kester
The logic of your statement alludes me. What does the separation of church and state or lack thereof have to do with democracy?
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
dear mr. disingenuous; of course you know what separation of church and state has to do with democracy, don't be coy. if there is NO separation between church and state, in other words, if the church keeps intruding into the public sphere, e.g. making public schools religious, making government religious, i.e. a theocracy evolves, then by definition a theocracy is not a democracy, it's a government governed by the church, by religious precepts rather than by the will of the people.
but you knew that
but I bet you lean towards the theocratic than the democratic...amirite?
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Russel A. Kester
JJ, first I must give you credit for creative salutations! LOL. History seems to prove you wrong as there have been many societies wherein the church and government were so intertwined as to be indistinguishable. But you specifically referred to democracies, and so, I call your attention to ancient Greece which during its height was both a democracy and theocracy combined. The earliest colonies in the US were also ruled by both. And finally, Great Britain is a democracy and the Church of England is the official religion of the land. I'm sure if you look into the history of other countries you might find the same. Like Rome for example before it came to be ruled by powerful men and families. Of course no less a person than former President Jimmy Carter has stated that the US is not a democracy. It's a republic which is now ruled by an oligarchy. And I've heard other smart people make the same statements. So, a society can be a democracy without the separation of church and state. It's been done. Sadly, either with or without such a separation, the US no longer seems to be a true democracy.
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Lionheart
Books containing horror, murder, human sacrifices, child killings, religious blackmailing, and genocidal drownings, should not be for children’s eyes. Just saying!
🦁❤️
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# Jesusislove?
If you are going to allow bibles into.a classroom then you must allow other religions to have their books of faith as well. Plus religious beliefs should start at home and taught there.
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Russel A. Kester
There is nothing dictating that other religious books must or even should be placed in the classroom; they shouldn't. Not all cultures or faiths are equal. A reasonable person studying history can quickly discern which have promoted better societies and which have not. Christianity has done better than the others as seen by the fact that most of the world's population wants to live in Western societies which developed under the Christian faith.
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Rev. BH
OMG! "Not all cultures or faiths are equal." Please apprise us of the inferior cultures and faiths, Russ.
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Russel A. Kester
BH, the terms inferior and superior are not terms I would use even as I acknowledge that not all cultures and faiths are equal. As I referenced, some cultures and faiths have proven themselves more effective in creating better societies for people to live their lives. The West under Christianity has done so. The Middle East under Islam had its high point too though as practiced today it has become a tool of the most radical and destructive elements in the Middle East. The paganism practiced in Ancient Greece, particularly Athens, brought that society to a very high mark in art and culture. Rome did much the same. Buddhism did some amazing things in India and later in Tibet, Thailand, and even China and Japan. I haven't heard of any great cultural achievements from the Bushmen of Australia and similar places around the globe. But by all means, anyone living in the West is welcome to go live in these other places. But they don't. Instead people living there want to come here. They are literally telling us with their feet that we are very privileged to live in the West with our culture, our religious history, and our sciences; they are telling us that we have the better society.
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Nicholas J Page
Wouldnt the money be better used for other purposes like improving schools and /teachers?.
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Russel A. Kester
Using the money for actual teachers instead of woke ideologes might be a better use, I'll give you that. But since such a praiseworthy use doesn't seem feasible at this time, the Bibles will have to suffice.
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Michael Hunt
Just say "liberal" instead of "woke" because that's what you really mean. Otherwise you're just using "woke" as a catch all for things you dislike instead of the original definition of, "aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)."
Everyone should want to be woke by the original definition.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
Michael, 'woke' is the new 'libtard' for regressives.
Also the way they use the word 'progressive' clearly implies their belief in not moving forward but wanting to return to the past (white, kkkrs chn, slavery, women as chattel etc), so the fair way to refer to those people is 'regressives'. makes it easier for stupid folk to understand the primary differences between the two political parties.
One is progressive, moving forward and working to make the world a better place for all.
One is regressive, moving backwards and working to keep the world a place they don't have to share with anyone not like them and allows them to keep power to themselves
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Russel A. Kester
Michael, I disagree. As with so many words in the English language, the word 'woke' has several meanings, and I am intentionally using it to refer to those over-the-top, wacky, and insane progressive people who espouse nonsensical, irrational social justice warrior rhetoric. The term 'liberal' means something entirely different.
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Merlin
oKay with me if they also distribute sacred writings of every “religion”. It will cost a lot more than $6 million.
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David Arthur Lewis
Voting Matters.
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Robin Anne Hannon
Ok so basically shoving religion down children's throats in a public school and wasting money that could be better spent on education. This is not a Theocracy, it is a Democracy. Makes me so angry!
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Rebecca L Tice
Nature hates a vacuum. Making the books available doesn't mean the children will be forced to be Christian or Muslim or whatever floats the boat you're so angry about.
Have Faith.... God is behind this... Have Faith.
I am more upset about having to put up metal detectors and posting armed guards at the doors to keep our children safe from shooters.
Have Faith... it's a Good Book for crying out loud!!
Thanks for letting me join in....
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
here's a funny thought: those guns you're worried about, almost always come from home. think about that, it's not outsiders coming into schools, it's almost always a classmate and that gun is either borrowed or was a gift.
as for your comment, "Have Faith.... God is behind this... Have Faith." explain again how that works in keeping kids with guns out of the classroom? or is your goD a gun enthusiast nowadays?
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Colleen McAllister
This is simply wrong and unconstitutional. The Bible does not belong in public classrooms. I say this as a Bible-believing, Born-again Evangelical Christian.
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Robert Gagnon
It has no place in public schools, even if donated. Seems pretty expensive, is it the Trump version?
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Rev. BH
I believe I just read that somewhere. More money for Trump from gullible fools.
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taycomama
Even if I were a Christian, I would consider the price of these bibles outrageous. If they must buy bibles, why not from a source that provides Gideon bibles to hotels or some other low price seller. The Constitution and et ceteras can be added as a separate booklet for a couple of dollars each. Somehow this scheme sounds like a way to put another few million dollars in Trump's pocket. Will he be signing them?
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Michael Howard Schrader
That is because it is. The only bible that meets the specs is the Trump Bible.
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Theresa C. Marquess
When I was a kid in school, there was a Bible on the desk of every teacher, but there have been so many changes in the law since that time, with prayer in schools being eliminated. Why not just place one bible into the library of each school and save millions?
It makes me wonder who will be lining his/her pockets with cash acquired in the transaction of purchasing these bibles. There is always someone with a sinister alternative.
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Rebecca L Tice
I say, Good for them!!!
Not too long ago, the Bible was the way most people [children and adults] learned to read. There are cool stories in the Bible... like the one about the Left Handed Swordsman.
I just hope they give them NIV or American Standard instead of that staugy KJV...lol
Good for them... a Good Book!
Becky
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
are you willing to include the qur'an, vedas, torah as well as books that describe and teach buddhism, tao, paganism et al.?
or is it just your kkkris chn bibble you want to force all children to be exposed to?
curious to know your answer and your reason(s)
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Paula Copp
Very good questions… Bravo!
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Rebecca L Tice
Well, if children want to read those instead, why not?
It would be better for us to consider how well the children might digest the stories.
Like I said... I love the story of the talking mule. I love the left handed swordsman.
Maybe children will read the stories and then read the other books... Jesus said, if their not against us they are for us.
Let the children learn. Pray that the Spirit will guide them. Have faith in God.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
are you suggesting that for children the bibble is fine but other sources, maybe for older kids?
because I did not read a ringing endorsement on your part for providing other texts besides the bibbel for the children.
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Russel A. Kester
The Koran, and Vedas do not have any historicity in Western culture. The Bible does. The Torah is the Old Testament of the Bible as it too has had a major influence on our history. Neither has Buddhism, Taoism, or any pagan belief system other than those of ancient Greece and Rome which were taught to me in school and should be today as well. The left wants to push any culture other than our own Western culture. Well, I and many others appreciate our own culture and want it taught to future generations.
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Michael Howard Schrader
You do realize algebra and our numerals were introduced by the Caliphates during the Middle Ages, right? Right?
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Russel A. Kester
That has nothing to do with my comment. But to your comment per Google AI, "Algebra was not discovered by a single person, but rather developed gradually over time, with the earliest recognizable algebraic concepts appearing in ancient Babylonia, where they used clay tablets to solve equations, including quadratic and cubic ones, through a system of rhetorical algebra, considered more advanced than the linear equations used by the Egyptians at the time; the "Plimpton 322" tablet is a famous example of this early Babylonian algebra." Ancient societies shared much with one another. Now how much of the things we think, do, or use were created by Western Society including the scientific methods we still rely on? You wish to deminish the achievements of Western society whereas I wish to praise them.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
don't be disingenuous, meester keester, you know very well what the purpose of the bibble is. it's to force kkkristinsanity into first, schools, then local government, then state and federal. you know this so you argument, were this simply a case of supplementing history lessons then perhaps, but like I said, you know better and so do I.
your comment about the left is b.s., it's the regressive right that wants to eliminate discussion of slavery as an evil, that freaks out at the mention of critical race theory and for more than a few of your regressive white supremacists there is a move of late to claim that the holocaust was an 'accident' and rewriting who and what hitler was. the left is willing to accept history as it is.
and what silly nonsense are you claiming about the left pushing culture other than our own? once again close-minded people on the regressive right seek any purchase, will tell any lie in the hopes of convincing enough people of their lies.
and finally, educationally who cares about the influence of the bibble on the early colonies. funny how some are mad desperate to push the bibble as having been influential and should be taught and yet the same ones want to disown and deny slavery and the effects IT has had on america and black americans.
your arguments are heavily biased, aged, white and kkkrstofascist and find an inclusive country anathema
when you were in school I'm guessing it was probably very white; people of color were still widely discriminated against in all aspects of life, the woman's place was in the home (barefoot and pregnant) and the biggest issue in most of (what is now red) america was the red scare/communists and how to decrease the influence of the cathaholic church
I could be off but most likely not by a lot
[subject, as always to potential censorship]
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Russel A. Kester
JJ, you covered a lot of ground in your comment. I will make a preliminary remark and then spend time on one of your topics. In my remarks I referenced culture not race. But your comment did try to reframe the discussion in terms of race. You then built the CRT strawman argument in hopes it could be used to discredit my comments. I don't accept your reframing of my comments as I commented in terms of the historicity of various religious writings and cultures.
Your comment that people on the right don't discuss slavery is simply wrong. People on the right do discuss slavery. Unlike those on the far left who wish to discuss only a small historical period of slavery and then only in the US, people on the right discuss the topic much more broadly and honestly. They discuss it as a phenomenan which has been an unfortunate reality for over 3,000 years and happened on every continent on Earth. That is a perspective the left eschews because it doesn't fit its colonial oppressor narrative. It is the progressive woke crowd that will not have an honest discussion. The right also acknowledges the Irish who were sold by the British as slaves to the Americas, Caribbean sugar plantations, North Africa, and the Middle East. Many, many millions of Irish. The right also acknowledges the many Europeans captured by pirates and sold into slavery to owners in Tunis, Algiers and Tripoli which was estimated to be between 1,000,000 to 1,250,000 persons. If one writes about slavery, then discuss the entire topic not just the perverted version of wokeism.
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Rev. BH
"The Koran, and Vedas do not have any historicity in Western culture." (RAK) Neither does the bible. It originated in the Near East, as I'm sure you recall.
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Russel A. Kester
BH, I'm not sure you're making the point you intend to make. My statement was that the Bible, and thus Christianity, had great influence on the development of Western culture. You seem to deny my claim and dismissing it because it has it historical roots in ancient Israel. But that perspective fails to understand the great importance Greek thought had in forming the New Testament and therefrom the birth of Christianity, making Christianity, especially as later developed in Rome, very much a Western intellectual and spiritual product. As another minister here has mentioned in another comment elsewhere, some Roman holidays were incorporated into the Christian faith. Even the church structure in both architecture and liturgy were heavily influenced by Rome. So, the Bible is very much a product of the West as is Christianity even as it traces its roots to ancient Israel. And the influence of Christianity on the West is undeniable.
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John P Maher
BRAVO ! WELL SAID SAID SAID SAID ECHO !
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
Update: ryan walters, the education supervisor that is pushing for bibbles in all classrooms in OK has written up a "Request for Proposal" for companies to bid on supplying the bibles. The one that meets the requirements and lowest bid will win the contract. But.....
It appears there are ONLY two bibble versions that meet his listed requirements (this after about 2300 different versions were checked); one is the trumpler bibble and the other is a bibble endorsed by trumpler (essentially the same thing)
Another provision of the contract stipulates that the bibbles have to be shipped within 2 weeks of the signed contract. Any guesses who might be sitting on 43, 000 already printed bibbles?
The price for the trumpler bibble wasn't disclosed in the article I read but I'm sure it's out there.
So not only is OK spending money better spent on raising their education ranking up from #49 but they (the education supervisor ryan walters) are essentially sending donolph trumpler a handful of money by having written the bid that only the trumpler bibble can meet
who say kkkrs chns aren't honest and above board
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Michael Howard Schrader
Apparently, there is one, and only one Bible that meets the state specs for KJV, Old Testament and New Testament, with Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and other U.S. historical documents, and a leather cover - the Trump Bible, at a cool $60.00 each, with proceeds going to Trump. Walters is ultra-MAGA. Yet another grift by Trump and his allies.
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Rev. BH
"Joey, put down that bible and read chapter 3 in your math book with the rest of us!"
"No way! The Bible's more important. It's from God!"
"Ok, you can read it after school in detention. And see if you can pray away this F I'm giving you in math."
"Uh, waitaminit ..."
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Jay Wolf
Grift at the highest level. Since when has any Bible contained or required to contain the declaration of independence, etc.
This does many things wrong. No separation of church and state, and then to funnel money to a liar, adjudacted sexual predator, insurrectionist, swindler and convicted felon because he has Bible that contains extra items that have nothing to do with religion.
By saying the schools must buy this sham of a book and it is mandatory in schools, deniies the religious rights of every religion outside of Christianity.
This feels like the missionaries that forced Christianity upon all cultures outside Europe when first exploring the world of the unknown.
Religious beliefs are once more being politicized.
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Jimmy Moon
Great start. Let's put Bibles in all schools and let American youths here GOD's WORD every day. GOD is getting ready to judge America. We must turn to HIM and REPENT. JESUS is the ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
not true, not true AT ALL
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Paula Copp
Oh, Jimmy! Even the pope recently said that all religions lead to god? Who are you to argue with the pope?
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Lionheart
I think you’ll find, Sir James, that the Bible was written by men, some of which didn’t know where the Sun went at night. I don’t remember any particular God ever having written anything in it.
I’m sure they were full of ego insisting their writings were from a god, but that’s what mankind loves doing….right? Joseph Smith was like that, plus many others of other religions.
🦁❤️
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arawngraalrd
At U$145@, I'd expect them to be signed by Trump, on behalf of George Washington, but I'd prefer they accept donations. The First Amendment, should they think to include The Constitution Of The United States Of America, constrains Congress, bot Oklahoma has its own constraints. The Bible, and many other classic historical influences, do belong in School, but Public Education does not, nor does the Prussian Industrial Model.
6 million in salary to teachers would have better results then force feeding religion to students.
I pity the Muslim, Jewish, and those of other religions and atheist students. They should not have to put up with this nonsense.