(Source : AP) — Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters is drawing national attention after mandating that public schools statewide show students a video announcing the creation of a new state Department of Religious Freedom and Patriotism. The video, which Walters instructed superintendents to distribute, promotes religious liberty and patriotic values while addressing concerns over “woke” ideologies in schools.
In an email sent to school districts Thursday, Walters required all Oklahoma schools to show the video to every enrolled student, along with sending it to parents. The video, released the day after the announcement, outlines the objectives of the newly formed department, which Walters said would investigate abuses of religious freedom and displays of patriotism in schools.
“We are requiring all schools to play this video to all kids that are enrolled,” Walters said in the email. “In particular, I pray for President Donald Trump and his team as they continue to bring about change to the country.” Walters, a Republican, also referenced the challenges he believes religious liberty faces in Oklahoma, blaming “woke teachers’ unions” for undermining patriotism and religious freedom in education.
The video includes a prayer for U.S. leaders, including President Trump, though Walters specified that students were not required to participate in the prayer.
The announcement has sparked controversy, with some school districts immediately signaling they would not comply. Edmond Public Schools, one of Oklahoma’s largest districts located in suburban Oklahoma City, and Bixby Public Schools, near Tulsa, both said they would not show the video. Edmond school officials indicated they were in discussions about the mandate, while the Tulsa district did not provide an immediate comment.
Walters’ directive comes amid ongoing legal challenges to his previous actions as superintendent. The state attorney general’s office weighed in on the new mandate, asserting that Walters lacked the legal authority to enforce such a requirement. A Friday statement from Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office described the mandate as “unenforceable” and argued that it violated parents’ rights, local control, and the free-exercise rights of individuals.
The controversy surrounding Walters’ actions is not new. In June, Walters issued a mandate that required public schools to incorporate the Bible into lessons for students in grades 5 through 12, an action that has also prompted lawsuits from local school districts. Some districts have expressed their intention to ignore both the Bible mandate and the latest directive.
The Oklahoma Department of Education’s ongoing push to promote religious and patriotic values in schools has also raised questions about funding. Walters recently purchased 500 copies of the “God Bless the USA Bible” for Advanced Placement government classes, which he said were ordered for about $25,000. The purchase was part of an ongoing push to integrate patriotic and religious themes into the curriculum.
Critics have expressed concerns that such initiatives are part of a broader effort to advance a specific political agenda, with some pointing to Walters’ campaign platform, which included fighting “woke ideology” and pushing for the removal of books deemed inappropriate in school libraries.
As debates over the role of religion and patriotism in education continue to intensify, Walters’ latest move seems poised to further escalate tensions between state authorities, local school districts, and parents across Oklahoma.
