Oklahoma Public Schools Superintendent Ryan Walters on Monday defended his decision to force the state’s public schools to teach students. video In it, he spouts right-wing rhetoric and asks students to pray for Donald Trump.
Walters told CNN’s Pamela Brown that his video was in response to Donald Trump’s call. bring prayer back to school.
“President Trump has a clear mission. He wants prayer back in schools. He wants radical leftists out of classrooms. He wants kids to be patriotic. We want to put responsibility for school choice back in the hands of parents,” Walters said, dodging Brown’s question about what that authority is. He must demand that his students see his Christian nationalist prayer. “We’re acting on that agenda here in Oklahoma. That’s what our parents want. Every county in Oklahoma voted for President Trump. His agenda is very And we intend to enact it in Oklahoma.”
But even the state’s Republican attorney general says Walters doesn’t have the authority to force schools to show his videos.
“A state school superintendent has no legal authority to require all students to watch a particular video,” said Phil Bacharach, a spokesman for the state attorney general’s office. said Oklahoman. “This proclamation is not only unenforceable, but also violates parental rights, community control, and individual free exercise rights.”
Walters first sent the video to superintendents across the state on Nov. 15. write By email:
Dear Superintendent:
We are at a dangerous time for this country. Students’ rights and freedoms regarding religious freedom are under continuous attack. The newly formed Ministry of Religious Freedom and Patriotism will work to thwart any attempts to interfere with the fundamental freedoms of Oklahoma students.
One of the first steps of the newly created division is requiring all schools in Oklahoma to play the attached video to every child enrolled. We are also asking the school district to send this video to all parents as well.
Students are encouraged to participate in this prayer, but it is not required.
The linked email is this videoIn the letter, Walters criticized the “radical left” and the “awakening of teachers’ unions,” adding, “I pray that our leaders make the right decisions. I especially pray for President Donald Trump. ” (In the video, a Bible and a coffee mug with the Latin phrase “S” are placed on the desk in front of Walter.)I am against the pacifists,” or “If you want peace, prepare for war. ”)
Many of the state’s largest school districts are not showing the video, which appears to violate the constitution. Separation of church and state.
Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation for the quality of elementary school education, according to . US News & World Report.
Lawmakers in the state have accused Walters of issuing an unconstitutional order to show videos of inappropriate prayers.
“We’re very deficient in reading and math. I think those are the things we need to focus on in public education, not culture wars,” said Republican state Rep. Mark McBride. Mr. said Oklahoma local news stations
But instead of funding efforts to better educate Oklahoma’s children, Walters wants to use the money to: millions of Thousands of state education funds President Trump’s official Bible in the classroomWalters require it to be taught in all public schools For children in grades 5 through 12.
ACLU is file a lawsuit The state of Oklahoma criticized the Bible instruction mandate, saying Walters’ policy “violates Oklahomans’ religious freedom and separation of church and state and imposes personal religious beliefs on the children of others.”
This isn’t the first time Oklahoma has gotten into trouble for trying to infuse religion into public education.
In June, the Oklahoma Supreme Court issued a 7-1 decision. blocked With the state’s policy of funding religious charter schools, “Under Oklahoma law, charter schools are public schools. Therefore, charter schools must be nonsectarian.”
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