Staff Reports
In a world where the phrase “radical left” seems to be the go-to descriptor for every perceived threat to societal norms, Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, has stirred the pot by advocating for the King James Bible to take its place in classrooms. In a state where the Ten Commandments are often under fire, Walters, in a move that could only be described as audacious, declared that Oklahoma’s classrooms should not only house a Bible but also engage in its teachings. Imagine the uproar! It’s as if he suggested they display the Holy Grail next to a globe.
Now, one might think it’s just another case of conservative fervor highlighting the contrast between safeguarding religious liberties and fighting against what they cast as “woke” ideologies. However, Walters didn’t just stop at a simple call to action. He proceeded to offer up a prayer—yes, a genuine, heartfelt prayer—thanking the Almighty for the good work done by none other than former President Donald Trump. I can hear liberal heads spinning already. “Pray for Trump in school?!” The horror! Meanwhile, the rest of the country chuckles mildly at yet another classic showdown of school prayers versus the gospel of progressivism.
Walters finds himself caught in a cultural crossfire. He critiques a system where certain ideas are deemed immovable. After all, if the left can cheerfully champion radical gender ideology as a part of “diversity and inclusion,” why can’t traditional values get a seat at the table? Liberals might argue that portraying a deity with a penchant for smiting isn’t exactly the curriculum goal, but Walters counters that the Bible is as much a historical text as any, filled with foundational stories that shaped this country. In response, progressives roll their eyes and prepare their rebuttals—everything from “separation of church and state” to accusations of indoctrination.
As Walters engagingly puts it, we’ve seen parents pushed aside in favor of radical ideas that have no business in classrooms. Yet, it’s as if the left expects everyone to simply nod in agreement and let their children be bombarded with radical gender ideologies while the mere mention of Biblical principles causes them to clutch their pearls in horror. At this point, it seems that every time a child is exposed to a story featuring a king or possibly a mantle of righteousness, the left imagines it will lead to an uncontrollable uprising of fundamentalism. Please, give me a break.
And let’s not forget about the media circus. Some notable figures, particularly from CNN, have wasted no time in trying to dismantle Walters’ statements, branding them as dangerous and archaic—a backward step for education. Indeed, for many in the media, the Bible’s stories—a tapestry of human experience including sin and redemption—are too authentic for our children to handle. Let’s instead expose them to themes of gender fluidity at ages when they still think cooties are contagious! That surely builds character.
In the end, Walters isn’t merely trying to put the Bible on the same shelf as modern-day identity politics. Instead, he’s advocating for a world where various perspectives—religious, historical, and cultural—can coexist. Perhaps even more shockingly, he is daring to assert that parents should have a say in their children’s education rather than have a bureaucratic system craftily shoo them away with rhetoric like “It takes a village.” In a nation that has grappled for years over what children should learn, perhaps it’s time to reflect on what knowledge truly matters—be it debates on gender or morality or the timeless tales found in scriptures.
In this great big country, where various cultures collide like bumper cars at a state fair, there exists a possibility to create a robust education system that respects everyone’s right to lean into discussions about different ideologies. Moreover, it would be a win for free speech! So while the left pushes back, perhaps it’s time to engage in a little healthy debate instead of hurling accusations like confetti at a parade. In the end, teaching about God—in whatever form that may take—should be about understanding and not indoctrination. After all, isn’t that what we should truly be advocating for—inclusion of thought?
