Oklahoma Superintendent Halts Bible Distribution in Classrooms

The newly appointed superintendent of Oklahoma schools, Lindel Fields, has announced he will not continue the initiative to distribute Bibles in classrooms, a program originally championed by former State Superintendent Ryan Walters. This decision follows a lawsuit concerning the distribution effort, which has prompted oversight from the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The court recently ordered an update on the lawsuit’s status, particularly in light of the transitions among key public officials involved.

In a statement, Tara Thompson, Interim Communications Director for the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), confirmed, “Superintendent Fields has no plans to distribute Bibles or a biblical character education curriculum.” Some Bibles had already been sent to various classrooms across the state. Thompson indicated that the department would assess its next steps regarding these materials and provide guidance to schools accordingly.

The court set a deadline of October 28, 2023, for Fields to clarify the department’s direction. Thompson emphasized the importance of adhering to this timeline while also addressing the broader question of fiscal responsibility. She stated, “We are looking at every dollar, every contract, every vendor, and making sure our taxpayers… that we can look them in the face and say yes, we are spending your tax dollars responsibly and we’re being good stewards with the money that you’re sending us.”

The lawsuit against the Bible distribution initiative was filed by a coalition of local groups, including Americans United, ACLU Oklahoma, Freedom From Religion Foundation, and Oklahoma Appleseed. These organizations issued a joint statement expressing relief at Fields’ decision not to pursue Walters’ program further. They affirmed their commitment to monitoring the actions of the OSDE and discussing future steps concerning the ongoing lawsuit.

The statement highlighted the importance of maintaining the separation of church and state, asserting, “The promise of separation of church and state guaranteed by the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions means that families and students — not politicians — get to decide when and how to engage with religion.”

In response to the decision, Walters expressed his disappointment through social media platform X, declaring, “I could not be more disappointed in the decision to move away from empowering our teachers in Oklahoma to use a foundational document like the Bible in the classroom. The war on Christianity is real.” Walters, who stepped down as state superintendent in September 2023 to lead the Teacher Freedom Alliance, also advocated for the establishment of Turning Point USA clubs in every Oklahoma high school.

As the situation develops, the OSDE is focused on complying with the court order while also addressing the concerns raised about the use of taxpayer funds for the Bible distribution initiative. The outcome of this legal and educational debate remains to be seen, with implications for how religious materials are handled within public schools in Oklahoma.