Several school districts say they will not – as of now – amend curricula following superintendent’s order

Several school districts say they will not – as of now – amend curricula following superintendent’s order

As a new school year looms in Oklahoma, some educators in the state are pushing back against a new state order to incorporate the Bible into their lesson plans.

In late June, Oklahoma’s Republican state education superintendent, Ryan Walters, ordered public schools in the state to immediately incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into their curricula, following the passage that month of a law in Louisiana with a similar mandate – and which was quickly challenged on constitutional grounds.

Walters appeared at a state education board meeting and called the Bible “one of the most foundational documents used for the constitution and the birth of our country”, though the US’s founders explicitly called for a substantial separation between church and state. And he said that the Bible was a “necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of western civilization, to have an understanding of the basis of our legal system”.

Walters’ policy and remarks not only reignited the conversation about keeping state and church affairs separate. They also drew criticism from civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers who argued that the order violated federal rights to freely exercise one’s religious faith as well as a constitutional prohibition against the establishment of a state religion.

  • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
    66·
    3 months ago

    The party of “small government”, forcing teachers to teach about a certain religion.

    It would be funny how they’re so similar to the Taliban, if it weren’t so sad.

  • snooggums@midwest.socialEnglish
    32·
    3 months ago

    Walters appeared at a state education board meeting and called the Bible “one of the most foundational documents used for the constitution and the birth of our country”, though the US’s founders explicitly called for a substantial separation between church and state.

    Sounds like the education superintendent needs to go back to high school.

    • BranBucket@lemmy.world
      15·
      3 months ago

      He knows. He knows it’s bullshit. He doesn’t care that it’s bullshit. It gives him and people like him more power, and that’s all he cares about.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      4·
      3 months ago

      I suppose that’s true in that it’s a document that Europeans considered foundational and that’s why they used the constitution to reject it…

  • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldM
    14·
    3 months ago

    I’m just waiting for all the pastors and parents to find out their kids are learning what the Bible really says.

    There is plenty of good history to teach from it, but they might not like the fact that Noah was based on the Mesopotamian Enkidu and the creation myth was a rewrite of the murder of the Mother Goddess Tiamat.

    • Transporter Room 3@startrek.website
      5·
      3 months ago

      Going to the youtube comments section for History Time’s videos on early human civilizations, and Peter Pringle’s songs about the Epic of Gilgamesh…

      Basically any mention of historic/legend/mythological events that the Bible based one of its stories on is met with protests of do your research and you’ll see the Bible didn’t steal anything ever, and you’re dumb for thinking that

    • BreadstickNinja@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      3 months ago

      There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.

      – God

  • octopus_ink@lemmy.mlEnglish
    12·
    3 months ago

    In late June, Oklahoma’s Republican state education superintendent, Ryan Walters, ordered public schools in the state to immediately incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into their curricula, following the passage that month of a law in Louisiana with a similar mandate – and which was quickly challenged on constitutional grounds.

    Louisiana passed a law that empowered the Oklahoma state education superintendent to make changes? Setting aside the very, very obvious constitutional issues, (we all know they only care about the 2nd Amendment anyhow) how does that logic work even for someone with R next to their name?

    • Optional@lemmy.world
      5·
      3 months ago

      Louisiana forced the eleven commandments to be displayed in schools. Their plan is to have taxpayers pay the legal fees all the way up to the Supreme Crooks.

      The Oklahoma R-guy said “hold my beer”.

  • varoth@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    3 months ago

    I’ve heard people say that they know it’s unconstitutional and their goal is to get someone to sue over it and take it to SCOTUS so SCOTUS can rule in their favor and give them free reign to violate the 1st amendment all they want.

    • Optional@lemmy.world
      7·
      3 months ago

      Yes and the taxpayers will pay for it. Millions upon millions flushed away for this fascist wankery.

  • IMongoose@lemmy.world
    7·
    3 months ago

    Hmmm yes, the 10 commandments are so relevant to laws in the US. Let’s go through them.

    I am the LORD your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.

    • explicitly allowed freedom of religion

    You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

    • explicitly allowed freedom of speech

    Remember to keep holy the LORD’s Day.

    • nope

    Honor your father and mother.

    • don’t have to, in fact the state will remove children from parents without honoring their wishes

    You shall not kill.

    • not really ground breaking stuff

    You shall not commit adultery.

    • shitty but not illegal

    You shall not steal.

    • wow, amazing

    You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

    • good rule but seems like “don’t lie maliciously” covers more.

    You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

    • seems appropriate to teach to elementary kids

    You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

    • coveting our neighbors goods is like 50% of the US economy. And also the basis of manifest destiny.

    Might as well have made “Treat others the way you want to be treated” state mandated curriculum, that’s more relevant than the 10 commandments.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.caEnglish
      5·
      3 months ago

      Might as well have made “Treat others the way you want to be treated” state mandated curriculum, that’s more relevant than the 10 commandments.

      And some version of that ethic of reciprocity has appeared in pretty much every civilization throughout known history.

      It’s far from exclusive to the Christian religion.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      31·
      3 months ago

      Not a single one of those commandments apply to U.S. law universally.

      Not even “thou shalt not kill” (thanks to the Castle Doctrine and stand-your-ground laws) and “thou shalt not steal” (thanks to civil asset forfeiture).

      So even for those two, which are the only two which our laws reflect, there are extenuating circumstances.

  • Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works
    3·
    3 months ago

    This should definitely be pushed back against through the proper channels but as it is it’s also a delicious opportunity for some good old fashioned malicious compliance. Teaching about the bible could be a great way to turn people away from the religions based on it.

    Also obligatory George Carlin on the ten commandments. Maybe this video can be shown in schools as a teaching aid to put the 10 commandments in a modern contex.