Funding Initiative Aims to Combat “Woke” Curricula
Oklahoma’s top education official announced on Thursday that he is nearing his goal of placing a Bible in every school across the state. This initiative aims to counter what he describes as “woke” curricula in textbooks and to provide students with access to a significant historical document.
In a phone interview with Fox News Digital, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters emphasized the importance of the Bible in understanding the foundations of America. He stated that the nation’s founders relied on biblical texts when establishing the Republic, and he believes today’s students should also engage with these texts.
Allocation of Funds
Walters revealed that his department has already allocated $3 million from its budget for this initiative. He plans to request an additional $3 million in the upcoming legislative session with the Republican-majority legislature to further his goal.
“There were several mechanisms that could have been used here,” he explained. “Districts could have tapped into existing funds or their textbook budgets. However, we, as the State Department of Education, have decided to purchase Bibles for every classroom with $3 million.”
He added, “We are going to purchase the Bibles, deliver them to the schools, and we will be requesting an additional $3 million to continue supplying schools with Bibles in the future.”
Community Support and Historical Context
When asked about potential pushback from legislators or constituents, Walters noted that parents largely support the initiative. He believes they want their children to learn about the Bible’s role in American history.
He pointed out that, decades ago, it was common for Bibles to be present in non-parochial schools. However, during the interview, he mentioned hearing protesters outside his office.
“We saw the Supreme Court being used against the Bible in classrooms and prayer in schools back in the 1960s,” Walters remarked. “With the aid of teachers’ unions, they succeeded in removing it from our schools.”
In June, Walters directed school districts to incorporate the Bible into their curricula. Thursday’s announcement highlighted his office’s commitment to securing funding to provide the text directly to schools.
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