At least 7 Oklahoma superintendents are refusing to show Ryan Walters' video to students

[WhiskeyGrinder]

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

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.”

Walters' emailed edict was sent just hours after the agency he runs, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, issued a news release in which Walters said more than 500 Bibles had been purchased for Oklahoma public schools, specifically for Advanced Placement Government classrooms.

[Hope22]

1. Wow....

‘500 Bibles had been purchased for Oklahoma public schools, specifically for Advanced Placement Government classrooms.’ Interesting that they are starting with AP! Hopefully those kids will have lots to say about it! I know a young person who would have. In college the mandatory religion class had an assignment to write what their religious background was and opinions on the matter. Weeks after we asked how that went. Turns out they had to read their paper aloud in class! The response was, ‘Well I was the only one in class who didn’t have the Bible shoved up my a$$!” 🤣😁

[Mariana]

2. There are 509 public school districts in Oklahoma.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. And seven of the leaders are doing the right thing.