EDMOND, Oklahoma — The state’s education superintendent, Ryan Walters, has communicated to public school superintendents across Oklahoma, urging them to show a video announcement related to the establishment of a new Department of Religious Freedom and Patriotism within the state’s education framework.
Walters, a member of the Republican Party, unveiled this new office on Wednesday, following which he sent an email to the superintendents the next day. The message explicitly stated, “In one of the first actions of the newly created department, we are requiring all Oklahoma schools to show the attached video to all students enrolled.” Additionally, districts were instructed to distribute the video to all parents.
In his video, Walters discusses perceived attacks on religious freedom and the derision of patriotism, blaming “woke teachers unions.” He includes a personal prayer for the nation’s leaders, emphasizing that students have the option to participate or not. He specifically mentioned praying for former President Donald Trump and his team, stating they are working towards positive changes in the country.
While announcing the new department, Walters conveyed its purpose as oversight for investigating violations of individual religious freedom and expressions of patriotism in educational settings. However, two of Oklahoma’s largest school districts, Edmond and Bixby, have indicated they do not plan to screen the video to their students.
A representative for the Tulsa district, which is the largest district in the state, did not respond immediately for comments while the second-largest district, Oklahoma City, stated that officials would convene to discuss the superintendent’s email further.
In a statement released on Friday, Oklahoma’s Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, asserted that Walters lacks the legal authority to enforce such a requirement. His office described the directive as “not only unenforceable but also contradictory to parental rights, local governance, and the rights of individuals to practice their beliefs freely.”
Walters is currently dealing with two lawsuits concerning his earlier directive for schools to integrate the Bible into curricula for students in grades 5 through 12. Several school districts have expressed intentions to ignore this mandate.
One of these lawsuits raises concerns regarding the original request to procure Bibles, suggesting it was designed to favor Bibles that are endorsed by Trump and are priced at $59.99 each. This request was later adjusted upon the advice of state purchasing officials.
In October, it was reported that Trump’s “God Bless the USA” Bibles were manufactured in China, a country Trump has previously criticized for taking American jobs and engaging in unfair trade. These Bibles reportedly cost less than $3 each to produce.
Earlier this week, Walters announced he had acquired over 500 Bibles intended for use in Advanced Placement government classes. According to a statement issued by the education department, the “God Bless the USA Bibles” were ordered for approximately $25,000 and are expected to arrive within the upcoming weeks.
Walters, who was elected in 2022 as a former public school teacher, campaigned on promises to combat what he terms “woke ideology,” removing books from school libraries, and eradicating what he considers to be “radical leftists” from the education system.