Oklahoma's top education official said Thursday that the Sooner State's “all “We are very close to our goal of having the Bible in every school in the world,” he said.
Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters said in a phone interview with Fox News Digital that America's founders called for the Bible when organizing the republic, so today's generation has a strong understanding of the country they live in. He said it was important to understand the texts from which they came.
Walters said exclusively that the department is currently allocating $3 million of its budget to the effort, and is asking the Republican-majority Legislature to provide an additional $3 million in upcoming legislative spending to reach the goal. announced that it would require.
“There were several mechanisms that could have been used here,” he said. “School districts could have used the budget they already had, they could have used the textbook budget, but what we are doing as a state Department of Education is to I'm talking about buying a Bible for $3 million.
Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters said the state is close to achieving its funding goal of putting a Bible in every classroom in the state's schools. (Getty Images)
“Here's our new announcement today: We're actually going to purchase Bibles and deliver them to schools. And secondly, we're going to ask for $3 million over the coming days to continue supplying Bibles to schools.” Move forward. ”
Asked about the backlash from lawmakers and constituents, Walters said that, in general, parents are excited about the Bible being used again in schools, and that as a result, children are learning “the Bible is one of the most important parts of American history.” “It will help you understand the role you played.”
He noted that decades ago it was standard for Bibles to be used in nonparochial schools. However, during an interview with FOX News Digital, Walters noted that he could hear the faint noise of protesters outside his window.
Walters told FOX News Digital that his goal was to help Oklahoma students “understand the role the Bible played in American history.” (St. Petersburg)
“In the 1960s, we saw the Supreme Court take up arms against Bibles in the classroom and prayer in schools. And again, with the help of teachers unions, they have taken action against our schools. “We were able to drive the Bible out of the country,” he added.
Walters' June directive required school districts to include the Bible in their curriculum, but Thursday's announcement means his office has now secured funding for the state to provide the textbook. It was worth noting that the company has secured the same amount in the future. directly.
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Former President Trump spoke out against “wokeness,” including in schools, and also spoke about the importance of the Founding Fathers and what they sought to build the country.
Walters said he takes those ideas and runs with them.
“We're going to see other states follow Oklahoma's lead,” he said.
