OK AG: Walters can't force schools to show prayer video

[struggle4progress]

Published Nov 15, 2024 at 6:09 PM EST
Updated Nov 16, 2024 at 9:07 AM EST
By Rachel Dobkin

The office of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said Friday that State Superintendent Ryan Walters, a Republican, can't force schools to show his video announcement of a new religious department, in which he prays for President-elect Donald Trump.

Walters sent an email Thursday to Oklahoma's public school superintendents requiring them to show students his video announcing the new Department of Religious Freedom and Patriotism within the state Department of Education. School districts were also told to send the video to students' parents ...

]https://www.newsweek.com/ryan-walters-donald-trump-prayer-gentner-drummond-1986729

[struggle4progress]

1. Lawmaker calls OK state superintendent's prayer video indoctrination

by: Mecca Thompson/KFOR
Posted: Nov 15, 2024 / 09:00 PM EST
Updated: Nov 15, 2024 / 09:00 PM EST

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A recorded prayer was emailed in an unlisted YouTube link to Oklahoma school superintendents ... telling them to have the video shared in classrooms and with parents ...

“This is indoctrination,” said Representative Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman). “This is true indoctrination and it ignores local control at every level.”

Rep. Rosecrants says he’s also Christian, but said public schools are welcome to all faiths.

“You’re ignoring people who don’t believe all these different things. And I’m sorry, that’s what public schools are all about. You know, we teach the public, that’s everybody,” said Rep. Rosecrants ...

https://www.wfla.com/news/national/lawmaker-says-oklahoma-state-superintendents-prayer-to-the-nation-video-is-indoctrination/

[struggle4progress]

2. Legal experts warn OK districts against showing prayer video

by Katie ArataFri, November 15th 2024 at 4:20 PM
Updated Sat, November 16th 2024 at 3:30 PM

... School districts around the state and legal experts told Fox 25 that Superintendent Walters does not have the authority to require any school districts to show the video, and legal experts say if districts do show the video, they could face legal repercussions ...

... Mustang Public Schools, Edmond Public Schools, Yukon Public Schools, and Mid-Del Public Schools told Fox 25 they would be showing the video to students or parents saying Walters does not have the authority to require them to share the content,

"It's pretty clear that Ryan Walters does not have the authority to impose curriculum or to tell superintendents to show a certain video," Chris Line, Legal Counsel for the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Oklahoma's Attorney General's Office agrees ...

https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-school-districts-respond-to-prayer-video-sent-by-superintendent-walters-osde-pray-for-president-elect-donald-trump-constitutional-violation-americans-united-for-separation-of-church-and-state-freedom-from-religion-foundation

[struggle4progress]

3. At least 7 Oklahoma superintendents refusing to show video

Murray Evans
Molly Young
The Oklahoman

At least seven large Oklahoma school districts said Friday they have no intention of showing a video of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters discussing his state agency's new Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism, despite Walters saying doing so was required.

Superintendents of the Edmond, Mustang, Moore and Norman districts each sent a letter to parents and others saying they would not show the video. The Tulsa World reported the Owasso and Tulsa districts wouldn't share the video, and news website Oklahoma Voice quoted the Mid-Del Schools superintendent, Rick Cobb, as saying his district would also forego showing the video.

The state attorney general's office backed the districts up. “There is no statutory authority for the state schools superintendent to require all students to watch a specific video," said Phil Bacharach, a spokesman for the state attorney general's office. "Not only is this edict unenforceable, it is contrary to parents’ rights, local control and individual free-exercise rights” ...

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2024/11/15/ryan-walters-oklahoma-religious-video-order-trump-bibles/76338979007/

[dalton99a]

4. It's a shame Trump won't nominate Ryan Walters for Secretary of Education

[tanyev]

5. Just put your precious video on YouTube, Superintendent Walters.

Then all the tens of students who want to see it will be able to freely choose to do so.

[Attilatheblond]

6. Onward, Xian Groomers?

Glad there are still some officials in the Bible Belt who studied law and took it seriously