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☆ Trump-endorsed Bibles meet requirements laid out for Oklahoma schools
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Daniel Strauss | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Oklahoma is soliciting bids for Bible suppliers to provide their wares for the state’s education department – and the specific requirements fit Bibles endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The RFP requirements also say that the Bibles must have the Old and New Testaments, and include copies of the US Constitution. The Bibles sell for $60 online and, through his endorsement, the former president receives some of the proceeds, according to Oklahoma Watch. The RFP from superintendent Ryan Walters is part of his ongoing push to put Bibles in every classroom. In a statement, Oklahoma State Department of Education Director of Communications Dan Isett said the RFP was consistent with the “norms of state procurement.

Persons: Donald Trump, Lee Greenwood’s, Greenwood, “, ”, Ryan Walters, Communications Dan Isett, Walters, ” Isett, Colleen McCarty, ” McCarty, “ Ryan Walters, ” Walters, Trump, Alicia Andrews, ” Andrews, he’s Organizations: CNN, Oklahoma Watch, Trump, Oklahoma State Department of Education, Communications, Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, The New York Times, Conservative, Liberty, Prosperity, Oklahoma Democratic Party Locations: Independence, New Testaments, Oklahoma

A dozen school districts in Oklahoma said they will not check students’ immigration status if asked by the state’s education department, in the latest sign of growing resistance to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters. “The focus has changed from public school students to self-centered political aspirations,” said Susan Wray, an elementary school principal in Edmond and a former state education department official. School districts also cannot ask students about their immigration status if it may be used to deny them access to a free public education, according to U.S. Department of Education guidance. The Deer Creek, Pryor, Millwood, Owasso and Jenks school districts told NBC News that they do not currently, nor do they plan to, ask students about their status. He threatened to take over Tulsa Public Schools after the district leadership told a board member she could not lead prayers on the microphone at a graduation ceremony.

Persons: Ryan Walters, Walters, ”, ” Walters, Susan Wray, that’s, “, Rob Miller, Moore, —, Chris Payne, Jeremy Hogan, Kevin Roberts, Miller Organizations: State Board of Education, Oklahoma State Department of Education, Oklahoma, NBC News, Republican, U.S . Department of Education, U.S, Supreme, Bixby Public Schools, Policy Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Policy Institute, Oklahoma City Public Schools, Tulsa Public Schools, Norman, Union Public Schools, Public, Brooklyn Public Locations: Oklahoma, Edmond, Bixby, Tulsa, Pryor, Millwood, Owasso, Jenks, California

☆ Oklahoma Superintendent Vows to Force Schools to Teach Bible, Issuing Guidance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Isabelle Taft | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Oklahoma state superintendent vowed on Wednesday to force public schools to comply with his mandate that they teach the Bible and issued striking guidance for teachers, amid pushback from critics who say the move infringes on students’ religious freedom. The guidance comes about a month after Mr. Walters, a conservative Christian and former high school history teacher, directed all state K-12 schools to teach the Bible. The directive was met with swift criticism from school district officials and others who said it infringed on students’ and teachers’ rights to religious freedom. Some school district leaders have responded with defiance, vowing to not comply with the requirement. But in a social media post announcing the guidance, Mr. Walters sought to crack down on any resistance.

Persons: Ryan Walters, Walters Organizations: Republican, United, Constitution Locations: Oklahoma, Independence, American

☆ Opinion: Public schools are not Sunday schools
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Opinion Amanda Tyler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —It has been an especially active few weeks for news about religion in public schools. Public schools are not Sunday schools, and families should feel free to send their children to school without worrying about state officials interfering in their choices about religious instruction. These politically conservative state officials are seemingly making a show of testing the limits of government-sponsored religious instruction and exercise in public schools, emboldened by the US Supreme Court’s recent decisions. Like religious instruction in public schools, the public funding of religion undermines fundamental principles of religious freedom for all. By merging religious and political authority, taxpayer funding of religious schools threatens the rights of people of all faiths — and those of no faith.

Persons: Amanda Tyler, Jeff Landry, Ryan Walters, ” Amanda Tyler, Kennedy, Walters, beholden, ” Walters Organizations: Baptist, Religious Liberty, Christian Nationalism, CNN, Texas Education Agency, Louisiana Gov, US, Twitter, Oklahoma Supreme Court Locations: Louisiana, Oklahoma’s, Kennedy v, Bremerton, Kentucky, Texas , Louisiana, Oklahoma

☆ The Bible in Public Schools? Oklahoma Pushes Limits of Long Tradition.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Sarah Mervosh | Ruth Graham | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Bible has been a presence in American classrooms to at least some degree since before the origins of the country’s public school system in the 19th century. But the announcement by Oklahoma’s state superintendent on Thursday that all public schools in the state must teach the Bible represented a major effort to expand its role and bring a Christian historical perspective to most all students. Schools have become the arena for an array of moral and cultural conflicts, and conservative Christians are asserting their political muscle even as they decline as a share of the American population. “In Oklahoma, we are very proud to lead the country on pushing back on the leftists trying to rewrite history and say, No, we will teach from the Bible,” the superintendent, Ryan Walters, said in an interview on Friday. Mr. Walters, a Christian conservative and former history teacher, said the mandate would focus on fifth through 12th grades, with an emphasis on the Bible’s influence in history and literature, areas where the Bible has historically been accepted in public education.

Persons: Ryan Walters, . Walters Organizations: Schools Locations: “, Oklahoma

☆ Oklahoma’s State Superintendent Requires Public Schools to Teach the Bible
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Sarah Mervosh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Oklahoma’s state superintendent on Thursday directed all public schools to teach the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, in an extraordinary move that blurs the lines between religious instruction and public education. The superintendent, Ryan Walters, who is a Republican, described the Bible as an “indispensable historical and cultural touchstone” and said it must be taught in certain grade levels. The move comes a week after Louisiana became the first state to mandate that public schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, which was quickly challenged in court. The Oklahoma directive could also be challenged and is likely to provoke the latest tangle over the role of religion in public schools, an issue that has increasingly taken on national prominence. The efforts to bring religious texts into the classroom are part of a growing national movement to create and interpret laws according to a particular conservative Christian worldview.

Persons: Ryan Walters Organizations: Republican Locations: Oklahoma’s, Louisiana, Oklahoma

☆ After Nonbinary Student’s Death, Schools Chief Defends Strict Gender Policies
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( J. David Goodman | Edgar Sandoval | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In his three years as state superintendent for Oklahoma’s public schools, Ryan Walters, a former high school history teacher, has transformed himself into one of the most strident culture warriors in a state known for sharp-edged conservative politics. Following the death earlier this month of a 16-year-old nonbinary student a day after an altercation in a high school girls’ bathroom, gay and transgender advocates accused Mr. Walters of having fomented an atmosphere of dangerous intolerance within public schools. In his first interview reacting to the death of the student, Nex Benedict, Mr. Walters told The New York Times that the death was a tragedy, but that it did not change his views on how questions of gender should be handled in schools. That’s how God created us,” Mr. Walters said, saying he did not believe that nonbinary or transgender people exist. He said that Oklahoma schools would not allow students to use preferred names or pronouns that differ from their birth sex.

Persons: Ryan Walters, Mr, Walters, Nex Benedict, “ There’s, ” Mr Organizations: The New York Times Locations: Oklahoma

☆ Nex Benedict: Death of Oklahoma teen after fight in school has LGBTQ+ advocates seeking answers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Andy Rose | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A 16-year-old student died following a fight at an Oklahoma high school – and as an investigation into the cause of death continues, advocates point to a heightened and hostile climate against the LGBTQ+ community. Nex Benedict, whose family says identified as nonbinary, died February 8, one day after they told their family they and a transgender student were involved in a fight with others at Owasso High School. It is not clear if or how the fight contributed to Nex’s death. An Owasso school resource officer went to Bailey Medical Center, where Nex was examined, and interviewed both Nex and their parent about the incident. Nex’s death comes after advocates have strongly criticized Oklahoma officials for actions perceived as targeting LGBTQ+ residents.

Persons: Nex Benedict, Nex, ”, Sue Benedict, Benedict, ” “, ‘ You’ve, don’t, ’ ” Benedict, “ Nex, ” Benedict, “, I’m, Kevin Stitt, Ryan Walters, ” Walters, CNN’s Whitney Wild, Taylor Romine, Caroll Alvarado Organizations: CNN, Owasso High School . Police, Police, Independent, High School West, Bailey Medical, Owasso Fire, KOKI, Oklahoma, Gov, Public Schools, Lambda Legal, ACLU Locations: Oklahoma, Owasso, ”, Nex

☆ The head of Oklahoma's Board of Education rejoices after a local elementary school principal resigned following hate-induced bomb threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe head of Oklahoma's Board of Education celebrated the departure of a local elementary school principal who resigned recently after their school received hate-induced bomb threats. The Western Heights School District board accepted the resignation of Shane Murnan, the former principal at John Glenn Elementary School, on Monday — a little over five months after beginning the position. As NBC News reported, publicizing Murnan's hobby quickly led to Murnan and the school district receiving bomb threats, leading to Murnan's voluntary departure. "Drag queens do not belong in Oklahoma schools," Walters tweeted. Walters' celebratory tweet on Wednesday wasn't the first time he's weighed in online about Murnan's resignation.

Persons: —, Shane Murnan, Brayden Savage, — I've, Murnan, I've, Ryan Walters, who's, Walters, he's, imploring Walters, Chaya, Murnan's, Raichik Organizations: Service, Oklahoma's, Education, Western Heights School, John Glenn Elementary School, Business, Heights Public, NBC News, NBC, Oklahoma Locations: Oklahoma's, Oklahoma, Western Heights, I've

☆ Oklahoma teachers who mistakenly received $15,000 to $50,000 in bonuses are now being told to give it all back
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Some teachers in Oklahoma are being told to return tens of thousands in bonuses they got by mistake. At least nine teachers received letters demanding they return bonuses of up to $50,000 each, nonprofit news organization Oklahoma Watch reported Thursday. The bonuses can be bigger if the teachers commit to a rural or poorer school, though the maximum is $50,000, per the state department website. This was the source of confusion for several teachers like Bojorquez, a teacher in Oklahoma last year but still received the money, Oklahoma Watch reported. A spokesperson for the Oklahoma State Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Persons: they've, —, Kay Bojorquez, she'd, Kristina Stadelman, She's, It's, Ryan Walters, Walters, Bojorquez Organizations: Service, Oklahoma Watch, Associated Press, Oklahoman, Oklahoma State Education Department, Business Locations: Oklahoma

Connor Stalions, the low-level Michigan football staffer at the center of the probe into impermissible scouting and sign stealing, resigned Friday. The Big Ten, according to Ono, has not begun an investigation regarding the allegations. Ono and athletic director Warde Manuel met with Petitti on Friday, when he was town for the Big Ten field hockey tournament. Big Ten bylaws provide a path for the commissioner to potentially act more swiftly in matters of sportsmanship and competitive integrity. Petitti met by video call with Big Ten coaches and athletic directors earlier this week.

Persons: Santa Ono, Tony Petitti, Jim Harbaugh, ” Ono, Kurt Svoboda, Connor Stalions, Stalions, ”, Ryan Walters, “ We’ve, Ono, Harbaugh, Warde Manuel, Petitti, Ralph D, Russo, Larry Lage Organizations: — University of Michigan, Big Ten, Associated Press, Purdue, Michigan, Athletic, ” Purdue, NCAA, Big, AP College Football, AP Locations: Mich, Michigan

3 Ohio State rout Purdue 41-7 on Saturday. Purdue (2-4, 1-3) has lost two straight and four of five, this one against a severely short-handed Ohio State offense. McCord opened the scoring with a 14-yard TD pass to Marvin Harrison Jr., Brown added a 2-yard TD run on Ohio State's second series. After Brown fumbled the ball away at the goal line, McCord hooked up with Cade Stover on a 4-yard scoring pass to make it 20-0. ... Ohio State rushed for 4.2 yards per carry one week after averaging 1.9 against Maryland.

Persons: — Kyle McCord, Dallan Hayden, Ade, TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Henderson, Emeka, Chip Trayanum, Hayden, Xavier Johnson, Devin Brown, McCord, Marvin Harrison Jr, Brown, Cade Stover, Deion Burks, Harrison, Stover, Devin Mockobee, Ryan Walters, Purdue's, Luke Griffin, Ryan Day, Burks Organizations: WEST LAFAYETTE, Ohio State, Purdue, Buckeyes, Ross, Ohio, Boilermakers didn't, Hudson Card, Boilermakers, . Ohio State, Maryland, Penn State, Division, AP Locations: Ind, Ohio, Georgia, Michigan, ., Nebraska

☆ Tulsa Superintendent to Step Down, in a Showdown With State Officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Sarah Mervosh | More About Sarah Mervosh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The superintendent of Tulsa, Okla., announced on Tuesday that she planned to step down, in an 11th-hour attempt to stop the state from taking over the largest school district in Oklahoma. The superintendent, Deborah A. Gist, and the school system in Tulsa, one of Oklahoma’s rare Democratic footholds, had become targets of Ryan Walters, the state’s divisive schools chief who is known for his conservative politics and provocative statements. Mr. Walters, a Republican who took office in January, has raised a litany of complaints against the Tulsa schools, including low test scores and financial mismanagement, and has battled over cultural and religious issues. Questioning Dr. Gist’s leadership, he threatened to take over the school district, which could include appointing a new superintendent, and even said that he had not ruled out revoking accreditation entirely — which would force schools to close. Tulsa public schools serve nearly 34,000 students, with a student population that is 80 percent economically disadvantaged and majority Hispanic and Black.

Persons: Deborah A, Gist, Ryan Walters, . Walters, Gist’s Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Tulsa Locations: Tulsa, Okla, Oklahoma

July 31 (Reuters) - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on Monday on behalf of Oklahoma residents asking a state judge to block the creation of the nation's first religious public charter school. Oklahoma's Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, one of the defendants in the suit, in June approved the Catholic Church's application to create the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which would use millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to operate. Rebecca Wilkinson, the executive director of the statewide virtual charter school board, said in an email that the agency would not comment on pending litigation. Charter schools are publicly funded and independently run under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority. Listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging St. Isidore are nine Oklahoma residents and the Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee.

Persons: Isidore of, Isidore, Brett Farley, Farley, Ryan Walters, Walters, St, Rebecca Wilkinson, Gentner Drummond, Brad Brooks, Donna Bryson, Bill Berkrot, Deepa Babington Organizations: American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, Charter School Board, Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Oklahoma, Catholic, Catholic Archdiocese of, Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, University of Notre Dame, The ACLU, Americans United, and State, Education Law Center, Religion Foundation, Thomson Locations: Isidore of Seville, Oklahoma, U.S ., Maine and Montana, St, Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma, Indiana, Lubbock , Texas

☆ Opinion | Tommy Tuberville Is Whitewashing White Nationalism
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Charles M. Blow | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But in this stew of adulterated meanings, “white nationalist” gets conflated with being a white patriot and allows any suggestion of racism to become an aspersion cast at white nationalists without cause. They did this for this reason.’ But to say it was inherent because of their skin is where I say that is critical race theory. You’re saying that race defines a person.”Be clear: White racists attacked and destroyed the Black community in Tulsa called the Greenwood District, also known as Black Wall Street. I guess Walters’s argument, as flimsy as it is, hangs on the word “inherent.” And no, white people are not inherently terrorists or racists. But, there have been white people who were terrorists and racists and wreaked havoc and destruction in this country.

Persons: Trump, Ramaswamy, ”, Ryan Walters, Walters, Jim Crow Organizations: Greenwood District Locations: Oklahoma, Tulsa, Black Tulsa

☆ School Board Candidates Who Pushed ‘Parental Rights’ See Mixed Results
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Ben Chapman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Republican Ryan Walters, who had support from the conservative 1776 Project PAC, won the state superintendent’s race in Oklahoma. Conservative candidates who ran for school boards saying they would change what students learn about race, sex and gender, or who opposed Covid protocols, saw mixed results in Tuesday’s election, according to supporters and a sampling of nationwide results. Ballotpedia, a nonpartisan election site, analyzed 361 races and found that about 36% of candidates who opposed school Covid protocols, diversity initiatives or the use of gender-neutral learning materials, won their elections.

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