In a recent initiative, Oklahoma’s chief education officer has announced a collaboration with well-known country musician Lee Greenwood to distribute $59.99 leather-bound “God Bless the USA” Bibles to classrooms across the state. This decision comes after a legislative committee turned down a request for $3 million in funding to support this effort.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters disclosed that he and Greenwood are working together to ensure these Bibles, which carry an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, make their way into Oklahoma schools. Walters emphasized the importance of the Bible in understanding key historical and cultural concepts, stating, “The Bible is indispensable in understanding the development of Western civilization and American exceptionalism, history, and all similar subjects.” He views the exclusion of the Bible from educational settings as an attack on the country’s foundational principles.
Walters’ mandate for public schools to include the Bible in their curriculum for students in grades 5 through 12 has sparked controversy, leading to a legal challenge from a group of parents and teachers. Many schools have chosen to disregard this directive. This move is seen as part of a broader trend led by conservative states aiming to influence public education. For instance, Louisiana now requires the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and other states are under scrutiny to include teachings about the Bible while excluding content related to race, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Historically, Oklahoma attempted to establish the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school, a move that faced legal challenges and is currently awaiting a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. Walters, a former public school educator elected to his current role in 2022, campaigned on eliminating what he described as “woke ideology,” removing certain books from school libraries, and tackling “radical leftists” he accuses of instilling particular ideologies in students.
There are growing signs of discontent even among Walters’ fellow Republicans regarding his divisive approach. Recently, a legislative committee refused his funding request for the Bible initiative, and Governor Kevin Stitt dismissed Walters’ proposal to gather the immigration status of students. When asked about the Bible initiative, Governor Stitt referenced a popular and free Bible app by Oklahoma pastor Bobby Gruenewald, noting, “I’m sure most kids have the Bible app on their phone.”