Oklahoma’s School “Bible Mandate” Canceled

Oklahoma’s new superintendent of public schools just announced he is rescinding a mandate from his predecessor that forced schools to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for students. Superintendent, Lindel Fields, said in a statement he has no plans to distribute Bibles or a biblical curriculum into the classroom. A toast to the new superintendent for upholding the First Amendment separation of church and state.

The decision is a reversal of the former superintendent, who resigned last month, and who drew immediate condemnation from civil rights groups, and prompted a lawsuit from a group of parents, teachers and even religious leaders. (That lawsuit is pending in the Oklahoma Supreme Court.)

The former superintendent also identified as a far-right Republican, who had announced plans to team up with Lee Greenwood seeking donations to get Bibles into classrooms. He fought to end far-left ideology, and to ban certain books from school libraries. While I do support adult-oriented books being banned in elementary schools, more importantly, I support getting politics out of the classroom. I don’t care whether it’s left-wing or right-wing. I simply want schools to teach facts and thinking skills that will be of actual use in adulthood.

In order to be balanced, fair, and non-discriminatory, either all major religions need to be taught, or zero need to be taught. Personally, I prefer zero to be taught. Religion, and its beliefs and principals, are a personal choice, and should be restricted to one’s personal life. It has no place in taxpayer funded endeavors in which our children, for all intents and purposes, are forced to attend.

Many schools districts across the state had already decided not to comply with the Bible mandate. That’s another deserved toast. In addition, a spokeswoman for the state education department said Fields believes the decision on whether the Bible should be incorporated into classroom instruction is one best left up to individual districts, and that spending money on Bibles is not the best use of taxpayer resources.

I certainly agree with the latter part of the statement. However, incorporation of the Bible into classroom instruction should not be left to individual districts. It should be left to one word: “No!” - not only in Oklahoma, but throughout the US. If I’m a Hindu, or Buddhist, or any religion other than Christian, I wouldn’t want my children being forced to listen to a mandated set of spiritual beliefs determined by the state. I would, however, encourage them to research other religions on their own free time. I have always encouraged my children to broaden their horizons on everything, and to believe and do things in a way that enables them to be a responsible adult, even if it’s a path different than my own. Why? Because quality parenting involves allowing children to become the best version of themselves, not a brainwashed clone.

Source used: Associated Press