Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters is at it again. Last week, Walters emailed all superintendents in the state and ordered them to show a video to students and send it to their parents. In the video, entitled “Prayer for the Nation,” Walters blames the “radical left” and “woke teachers unions” for “attacking” religious liberty and then proceeds to deliver a prayer supporting President-elect Donald Trump. Walters encourages students to join in his prayer.
Americans United and its allies responded quickly. Joined by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, we wrote to every superintendent in Oklahoma and urged them not to show this video.
Obviously, this is a no-brainer. Public schools must welcome all students, those of a variety of faiths and none. Showing a video prodding students to pray is clearly problematic and inappropriate.
AU will continue speaking out against Walters’ Christian Nationalist crusade. But we need more help on the ground. That’s where Oklahoma’s legislators come in. They have expressed a willingness to rein in Walters before. They need to do so again.
Educators also have a role to play. State law leaves decisions about what goes on in the classroom in local hands. Walters is attempting a power grab. Public school teachers and administrators should tell him no.
You can help, too. If you live in Oklahoma (or know someone who does) and hear of a school district that has shown or plans to show Walters’ video, contact AU at www.au.org/report-a-violation.
