Oklahoma's new Superintendent of Public Instruction, Lindel Fields, has officially reversed a controversial mandate from his predecessor that required public schools to place Bibles in classrooms. The decision, announced Wednesday, concludes a contentious policy that sparked a legal battle and a national conversation about the role of religion in public education.
Key Takeaways
- New Oklahoma Superintendent Lindel Fields has scrapped a mandate requiring Bibles in public school classrooms.
- The policy was established by the previous superintendent, Ryan Walters, and faced significant legal challenges.
- Civil liberties groups that sued to block the mandate have praised the reversal as a victory for the separation of church and state.
- The decision signals a significant shift in education policy for the state.
New Leadership Ends Classroom Bible Policy
In a clear departure from the previous administration, Oklahoma's new head of public schools, Lindel Fields, announced an immediate end to the state-mandated placement of Bibles and religious texts in classrooms. The move directly undoes one of the most debated policies of his predecessor, Ryan Walters.
In a formal statement, Fields clarified the new direction for the Oklahoma State Department of Education. His office confirmed its commitment to secular public education and adherence to constitutional principles.
"We…have no plans to distribute Bibles or Biblical character education curriculum in classrooms," Fields said in the statement released on Wednesday.
This announcement effectively halts any further implementation of the previous mandate. It also addresses the core issue of a pending lawsuit that questioned the policy's constitutionality.
The Mandate Under Ryan Walters
The original policy was introduced by Ryan Walters, a conservative Republican who served as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction before resigning last month to join an education-focused nonprofit. Walters was a prominent figure known for his campaign against what he termed “woke” ideology in schools and his strong support for former President Donald Trump.
Background of the Policy
In November, shortly after the presidential election, Ryan Walters announced that Oklahoma would become the first state in the nation to purchase and distribute Bibles for classroom use. The plan involved acquiring more than 500 Bibles for students in fifth through twelfth grades, intending for them to be integrated into lesson plans.
Walters argued that the Bible was a foundational historical and literary document essential for a complete education. However, the move was immediately met with strong opposition from various groups who saw it as a violation of religious freedom.
Legal and Public Opposition
The mandate quickly drew a legal challenge. A coalition of Oklahoma parents, public school teachers, and religious leaders from various faiths filed a lawsuit against the state. They argued that the policy was unconstitutional because it used public funds and government authority to endorse a specific religion, Christianity, upon a diverse student body.
The lawsuit, which is still active before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, contended that the mandate violated the principle of separation of church and state guaranteed by both the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions.
Coalition Against the Mandate
The legal challenge was spearheaded by several prominent civil rights and secular advocacy organizations, including:
- Americans United for Separation of Church and State
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oklahoma
- The Freedom From Religion Foundation
- Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
These groups argued that public schools must remain neutral on religious matters and that religious instruction is the responsibility of families and faith communities, not government officials.
Reactions to the Policy Reversal
The decision by Superintendent Fields to revoke the mandate was met with widespread approval from the organizations that had legally opposed it. In a joint statement, the coalition of civil liberties groups commended the new superintendent for respecting constitutional boundaries.
"The attempts to promote religion in the classroom and the abuses of power that the Oklahoma State Department of Education engaged in under Walters’ tenure should never happen in Oklahoma or anywhere in the United States again," the groups stated.
They further emphasized the importance of individual religious freedom, adding, "The promise of separation of church and state guaranteed by the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions means that families and students – not politicians – get to decide when and how to engage with religion."
In contrast, former superintendent Ryan Walters expressed his disapproval of the decision. In a post on the social media platform X, he framed the reversal as an attack on religious values in education.
"I could not be more disappointed in the decision to move away from empowering our teachers in Oklahoma to use a foundational document like the Bible in the classroom," Walters wrote. "The war on Christianity is real."
Future of Religion in Oklahoma Schools
While Fields' action resolves the immediate issue of the Bible mandate, the broader national debate over the role of religion in public education continues. Walters had also initiated other controversial plans before his resignation, including an effort to establish a chapter of the conservative student organization Turning Point USA in every Oklahoma high school.
The new administration's focus appears to be on returning to established educational priorities and avoiding legally contentious policies. By revoking the mandate, Superintendent Fields has signaled a significant change in direction for Oklahoma's public school system, prioritizing constitutional compliance over the promotion of specific religious viewpoints.
The outcome of the lawsuit before the Oklahoma Supreme Court may now be moot, but the legal principles it raised will likely continue to influence similar debates in other states across the country where the line between education and religion is frequently tested.