In Oklahoma, a group of parents, teachers, and ministers has filed a lawsuit against State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
They aim to stop his mandate requiring schools to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades five through twelve.
The lawsuit also seeks to prevent Walters from spending $3 million in public funds to purchase Bibles for this purpose.
The plaintiffs argue that this directive violates the Oklahoma Constitution by using taxpayer money to support religion and by favoring a Protestant version of the Bible over others.
They also contend that Walters and the state Board of Education lack the authority to mandate instructional materials.
Erika Wright, founder of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition and a parent, emphasized the personal nature of religious education:
“It is not the role of any politician or public school official to intervene in these personal matters”
The lawsuit is backed by multiple civil rights groups, including the Oklahoma chapter of the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
It also points out that the original state proposal to buy the Bibles seemed to align with versions endorsed by former President Donald Trump, priced at $59.99 each.
This marks the second legal challenge to Walters’ mandate, with a separate lawsuit filed in June.
Walters, who campaigned on fighting “woke ideology,” responded to the lawsuit by stating he will not “back down to the woke mob” and argued that the Bible’s historical influence on the nation should be taught in schools.
