July Editorial Winner

Editorial

By Mike McCormick, The Lincoln County News

State School Supt. Ryan Walters once again has overstepped his authority. 

Last week he ordered all public schools under his jurisdiction to incorporate the Bible and Ten Commandments into their curricula.

This applies to all public schools in grades 5-12 beginning this school year, which starts in six to seven weeks.

This smacks of being unconstitutional and is surely to be challenged in court.

State Attorney General Gentner Drummond stated last week that Walters doesn’t have legal authority to set curriculum. That responsibility lies with local school boards, he asserted.

Yet, Walters remains defiant, despite what the AG has stated.

Walters’ memorandum in part states, “The Bible is one of the most historically significant books and a cornerstone of Western civilization, along with the Ten Commandments. They will be referenced as an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like, as well as for their substantial influence on our nation’s founders and the foundational principles of our Constitution.”

He mandated the Bible must be a part of the curriculum for those students.

“This is not merely an educational directive but a crucial step in ensuring our students grasp the core values and historical context of our country,” the memo added.

School superintendents were told more information would be forthcoming on monitoring this directive for the 2024-25 school year and that the Education Department could help by providing materials on the subject.

His mandate comes on the heels of a State Supreme decision that ruled a contract with a religious charter school violates the state and federal law and is unconstitutional. The court ordered the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board to terminate its contract with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.

State Attorney General Gentner Drummond had filed the lawsuit claiming the Statewide Virtual School Board’s decision to approve the contract was unconstitutional.

While Walters was not a party in that lawsuit, he criticized the State Supreme Court’s decision.

Walters continues to be defiant and arrogant. It’s either his way or else.

The Attorney General has already stated that Bibles are available in schools for use as teachers may need or want. But just because they are available, doesn’t mean they should be mandated to use or teach from them.

This is just political pandering at its worst by Walters. Earlier this year, he attempted to order some library books be jerked out of the Edmond School District, which brought a lawsuit. The State Supreme Court over ruled him, saying that decision lied within local school boards.

He gave some teachers bonuses, then ordered they pay them back. What a fiasco that caused.

Multiple lawsuits could be forthcoming and that is going to cost taxpayers even more money to defend them. That is money that would be better utilized in the classroom.

Our teachers may be familiar with the Bible, but not necessarily versed enough to teach from it.

Walters should be a champion for public education and the teachers, but he seems to want just the opposite.

It’s time the State Board of Education rein in their superintendent. He is turning out to be a loose cannon.