Countering the fake and contrived Banned Books Week that promotes many graphic and profane books, the Sooner State is taking a different tact.

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters recently announced plans to place Bibles in every classroom statewide.

In announcing the plan this week, Walters said,

We know that history without an understanding of Biblical influence is dishonest to education. Oklahoma kids will have access and know that we are investing in their future. We are putting the Bible in every classroom!

Walters has advocated for the Bible as “a necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of Western Civilization” and “one of the most foundational documents used for the Constitution and the birth of our country.”

To implement the plan, Walters has already allocated $3 million of his department’s budget to support the endeavor. He is seeking an additional $3 million for the plan during Oklahoma’s upcoming legislative session to get a Bible into every classroom.

“I’m standing firm with my bold proposal to put Bibles in every classroom across Oklahoma,” Walters recently wrote on X. “Let’s empower our children with this invaluable historical document and the influence it has in building our nation.”

Many on the Left are aghast at Walters’ plan. How dare he counter much of the “woke” indoctrination occurring in our nation’s schools with a religious text.

But Walters’ plan isn’t problematic. It’s courageous and correct.

As scholar Daniel Dreisbach, Professor in the Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology at American University, writes in his book, Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers,

The American founders read the Bible. Their many quotations from and allusions to both familiar and obscure scriptural passages confirm that they knew the Bible from cover to cover. Biblical language and themes liberally seasoned their rhetoric. …

Many founders were students of the Bible, and a few even wrote Bible commentaries and learned discourses on theology and Christian doctrine and practice. The Bible left its mark on the political culture of the founding era.

If we wish to create a well-formed and knowledgeable citizenry, teaching the Bible to tomorrow’s educators, lawyers, politicians, scholars and doctors is indispensable.

Thanks to Superintendent Walters for his bold and brave leadership. Let’s hope and pray more states will soon follow suit.

Focus on the Family is celebrating Bring Your Bible Day on October 3, 2024. The event gives Christians an opportunity to live out their faith.by bringing their Bible and sharing what God’s Word means to them! You can register and learn more about Bring Your Bible Day.

At Focus on the Family, we want to help parents feel confident and equipped to handle issues affecting public – and private and online – schooling. Our new FREE downloadable resource, Equipping Parents for Back-to-School, helps you be aware of what’s going on in your child’s classroom and offers guidance for how to advocate for your child in the school year ahead.

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‘Equipping Parents For Back-To-School’ – Updated Resource Empowers Parents

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Oklahoma Superintendent Directs All School Districts Teach the Bible

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