Oklahoma releases guidelines for implementing the Bible into school curriculum

The Oklahoma Department of Education released its guidelines Wednesday on how to implement teaching about the Bible into public school classrooms.

The state's top education official, Ryan Walters, issued a directive last month that all public school officials must include the Bible in lessons from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Walters said at the time that “immediate and strict compliance" with the guidelines would be expected.

The guidance instructs teachers to emphasize the Bible's historical, literary, and secular benefits to avoid infringing on the separation of church and state, and says it should not be used for religious reasons like preaching, or indoctrination.

“The radical leftist mob has tried to rewrite history in Oklahoma,” Walters told the Washington Examiner. “It stops today, and Oklahoma schools will refocus our kids’ education so they know the value of the bible in its historical context. The woke radicals will not like it. They will not believe it. However, they will teach it in Oklahoma.”

Critics of the guidelines have argued that the strategies to implement the Bible and other important religious documents into schools is to "assert Christian favor" instead of helping the country advance towards equality, according to The Hill.

The guidance emphasizes the Bible's role in Western civilization as a whole, but makes adjustments on how the topic is covered for each age group. Ethical and philosophical discussions on the historic book are allowed for high school students, but fifth graders should be examine narrative elements and literary devices of the Bible.

Teachers are also expected to touch on the Bible's influence on music and art.

“The Bible is indispensable in understanding the development of Western civilization and American history,” Walters said. “To ensure our students are equipped to understand and contextualize our nation, its culture, and its founding, every student in Oklahoma will be taught the Bible in its historical, cultural, and literary context.

"As we implement these standards, our schools will maintain open communication with parents to make sure they are fully informed and full partners in their kids’ education.”

Students are expected to analyze the Bible like they would any other historic text or document. They will also use it to draw comparisons to topics like Greek and Roman mythology, according to the guidelines.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.