The Freedom From Religion Foundation strongly condemns the recent proposal to insert overt Christian references into social studies standards for Oklahoma public schools.
The move, spearheaded by Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, represents yet another troubling breach of the constitutional principle of separation of state and church and further jeopardizes the secular education of Oklahoma students. FFRF is currently involved in two lawsuits in Oklahoma involving public education.
The new standards mandate increased emphasis on Christian teachings and references to the bible, which Walters boasts is mentioned “over 40 times,” falsely framing them as central to understanding American history and civic values.
“Oklahoma is putting the Bible and the historical impact of Christianity back in school. We are demanding that our children learn the full and true context of our nation’s founding and of the principles that made and continue to make America great and exceptional,” says Walters. “These new standards fully and unabashedly answer the mandate that voters demanded upon electing President Trump: No more woke, radical indoctrination.”
FFRF warns that these changes would undermine constitutional principles and threaten the integrity of public education. By instilling religious teachings, the standards would subvert the ideal of a balanced and inclusive curriculum that respects America’s pluralistic society. The proposed standards clearly violate not only the First Amendment, but also the Oklahoma Constitution, which stipulates that public schools must be “free from sectarian control” (Article 1, Section 5) and bars any public money or property being appropriated to benefit any “system of religion” (Article II, Section 5).
“Oklahoma students deserve an education that prepares them to be informed citizens, not one that imposes religious dogma,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “Oklahoma already is ranked 49 out of 50 on its educational system. This proposed curriculum would further undermine critical thinking, as well as marginalize non-Christian students.”
FFRF will thoroughly review the curriculum and urges Oklahoma’s citizens to utilize the public comment period (through Jan. 21) to combat these unconstitutional and divisive standards. FFRF stands ready to take legal action if necessary to ensure that Oklahoma’s public schools uphold the principles of secular education and constitutional protections.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with more than 40,000 members across the country, including hundreds of members in Oklahoma. Our purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
