Action promised against Okla.’s new Christian Nationalist social studies curriculum

Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice condemn Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters’ latest attempt to impose religion on students in the state’s public school system. Walters’ new social studies curriculum standards, which will promote Christianity to public school students as young as first graders, are poised to go into effect. 

The organizations, which already are representing Oklahomans in lawsuits that challenge church-state separation violations involving Oklahoma public schools, issued the following statement:

New social studies curriculum violates religious freedom

“Oklahoma families, not politicians or public schools, should decide if, when and how children engage with religion. If implemented, these new social studies standards will violate students’ and families’ religious freedom by promoting Christianity and advancing Christian Nationalist disinformation. Not on our watch. We are preparing to take the steps necessary to protect the religious freedom of all Oklahoma public school students and prevent these standards from undermining public education in Oklahoma.”

In a December press release announcing the proposed standards, Walters asserted that they contain “over 40 references to the Bible and Christianity.” He declared that this shows that “Oklahoma is putting the Bible and the historical impact of Christianity back in school.” Walters boasted in public remarks that the standards are intended to “champion the guidance that the Bible gave throughout American History.”

Oklahoma Legislature failed to intervene

In February, the Oklahoma State Board of Education approved the curriculum (though three new board members have said Walters deceived them by making last-minute changes to the standards without notifying them or the public). The standards then went to the Legislature for approval. Though Oklahoma Senate Education Committee Chairman Adam Pugh authored a resolution to reject the standards, the Legislature failed to act on it before adjourning yesterday. Without that legislative action, the standards will go into effect next school year.