Religious Liberty Gets A Boost In Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Education has unveiled plans to establish an “Office of Religious and Patriotism” aimed at safeguarding the religious rights of students, teachers, and parents. The new office will focus on ensuring that individuals can freely practice their religion in all areas of life and will investigate any violations of religious freedom or instances where patriotism is suppressed.
State officials, including Superintendent Ryan Walters, emphasized that the office would provide guidance to public schools in Oklahoma, ensuring the protection of students’ right to pray in school. Walters expressed concern that public schools across the nation had become places where religious liberty had been undermined over recent decades, criticizing what he called “the radical left” for attempting to replace traditional values with ideologies that oppose faith, family, and patriotism.
The initiative follows a broader stance from Walters, who has repeatedly criticized the erosion of faith and family values in education, linking this to declining academic performance in schools. He also indicated plans to collaborate with the incoming Trump Administration to push for policies that would strengthen academic outcomes and promote traditional values in the educational system.
However, the announcement has sparked controversy. Critics, including the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), argue that the new office is unnecessary, asserting that students have always had the right to pray and that the move could be a step toward indoctrination. The FFRF called the office an overreach, suggesting it would force prayer in schools and undermine the separation of church and state.
Earlier in the year, Walters made headlines by directing schools to incorporate the Bible into their curricula and by proposing a $3 million initiative to provide Bibles to schools. This move faced legal challenges from various groups, including the ACLU and the FFRF, who argued it infringed on parental rights and violated state regulations. Walters, however, defended his position, stating that understanding American history required recognizing the biblical principles that shaped the country. He reiterated his commitment to defending Oklahoma’s educational values against external opposition.