In June 2024, Oklahoma's State Superintendent of Public Instruction,RyanWalters, issued a directive mandating that all public schools in the state incorporate the Bible, includingtheTenCommandments, into their curricula. This initiative required every classroom to have a Bible and for educators to integrate its teachings across various subjects, such as history, math and science.
To support this mandate, Walters requested a $3 million budget allocation to purchase 55,000 Bibles for Oklahoma schools. The initial specifications for these Bibles stipulated that they be the King James Version, includeboththeOldandNew Testaments, and contain foundational U.S. documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. This description closely matched the 'God Bless the U.S.A. Bible,' endorsed by former President Donald Trump, raising concerns about potential favoritism and legal issues.
Critics argued that the mandate violated the constitutional principle of separation of church and state. Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson highlighted that the specific bid requirements might restrict competition, potentially breaching state procurement laws. Additionally, Democratic State Senator Mary Boren criticized the mandate as a blatant violation of the state's constitutional provisions regarding church and state separation.
In response to the backlash, the Oklahoma State Department of Education amended its request, removing the requirement for the Bibles to include U.S. historical documents. This change aimed to address concerns about favoritism and to ensure better value for taxpayers.
Despite these adjustments, the initiative faced legal challenges. In October 2024, a group of Oklahomans filed a lawsuit in the Oklahoma Supreme Court against Walters and other defendants, seeking to block the teaching mandate and the associated $3 million expenditure.
By November 2024, the Education Department abruptly canceled the solicitation for Bibles without providing a clear explanation. This sudden cancellation left bidders, such as the Herkommer Foundation, seeking clarification, especially after investing time and resources to meet the bidding requirements.
Throughout this period, Walters remained steadfast in his position, asserting that the Bible's teachings are foundational to American history and values. He accused opponents of the initiative of harboring anti-Christian sentiments and attempting to undermine religious freedom.
As of March 2025, the controversy surrounding the 'Bibles Back in School' campaign continues, reflecting broader national debates over the role of religion in public education and the boundaries of church-state separation. Yet, Oklahoma has implemented measures to incorporate the Ten Commandments intopublicschool setting.
On March 10, the Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily blocked Walters, the Department of Education, the Board of Education and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services from further implementing or enforcing Walters’ Bible mandate until the lawsuit over Bibles in schools is resolved.
There have been multiple legislative attempts to display the Ten Commandments. The most current one is when Representative Jim Olsen introduced House Bill 1006, which mandates that every public-school classroom in Oklahoma displays a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a conspicuous place.
This bill is part of ongoing legislative efforts to emphasize the historical significance of the Ten Commandments in the foundation of U.S. laws and values. These initiatives have sparked debates concerning the separation of church and state.
Opponents argue that such measures may infringe upon the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits government endorsement of a particular religion. Similar laws in other states have faced legal challenges; for instance, a federal judge recently blocked a Louisiana law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, deeming it unconstitutional.
As these developments continue to unfold, legal challenges may arise to address potential conflicts between state directives and constitutional provisions regarding religious neutrality in public education.