Oklahoma’s education system is embroiled in controversy after State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, mandated the integration of Bible lessons into public school curricula.

Targeting students aged 11-18, Walters insists this compulsory directive, effective immediately, is crucial for providing essential historical and cultural grounding. Covering grades 5 to 12, this move aims to deepen students’ understanding of the nation’s foundational principles.

Elected in 2022, Walters, a former history teacher, campaigned against “woke ideology.” He defended the Bible mandate, calling it “an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone.” “Without basic knowledge of it, Oklahoma students are unable to properly contextualize the foundation of our nation,” Walters stated.

Walters has previously argued that secularism has created a state religion out of atheism, pushing faith out of the public sphere. In a past op-ed, he accused President Joe Biden and teacher unions of replacing biblical values with “woke, anti-education values.”

Critics argue the directive blurs the line between church and state, labeling it religious coercion. “Public schools are not Sunday schools,” said Rachel Laser, head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, condemning Walters for imposing his religious beliefs on students. The Interfaith Alliance echoed this sentiment, calling the mandate “clear religious coercion” and emphasizing true religious freedom means no single religious group imposing its viewpoint on all Americans.

This directive follows a similar controversial move in Louisiana, where a law mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. Nine families have sued, claiming it violates the First Amendment and pressures students into adopting a state-favored religion.

As the debate heats up, stakeholders brace for a potentially lengthy legal battle over the boundaries of religious expression in public education.