‘It’s Certainly Doable’: A Look Into How Bible Instruction Might Look in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Can the Bible be taught in public schools without going against the law?

In an interview, Chuck Stetson, the CEO of the Bible Literacy Project, said it can.

As previously reported, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters (R-Okla.) directed schools statewide to use the Bible as instructional material in class.

Stetson provided insight into how exactly that is happening across the country already.

According to Stetson, teaching the Bible in public schools can get dicey. Legal challenges could arise if public schools were to start teaching students which religious beliefs to have, for example.

However, in his view, the Bible is essential in understanding key parts of history, art, and literature.

The Bible Literacy Project surveyed “39 university professors at 34 secular universities, including Yale, Harvard, Princeton, University of California at Berkeley, and 100 percent… agreed that regardless of one’s faith, an educated person knows the Bible,” said Stetson.

He shared that schools have been using his program, featuring the textbook The Bible and its Influence since 2005.

1,000 public schools across 45 states—including Oklahoma—have brought the resource into classrooms, noted Stetson.

“We haven’t had any challenges whatsoever, while others have had challenges and have lost lawsuits over it. So, it’s an area where you have to be very careful, but it’s certainly doable,” he added.

The state superintendent’s announcement has drawn criticism from state Democrats though.

Norman, Moore, and Bixby Public Schools have all announced they’re not complying after asserting the mandate doesn’t follow the current state educational standards.

On Monday, FOX 25 reported on Norman Democrats rallying around NPS.

State Rep. Annie Menz (D-Norman) argued, “The folks who are at the very top making these decisions are less interested in Christian values and more interested in the power that they get from spinning the rhetoric.”

The lawmakers also raised accusations of the Bible instruction mandate being unconstitutional.

Stetson asserted his method is time-tested and First Amendment compliant.

FOX 25 reached out to the Oklahoma State Department of Education to ask if officials were planning on bringing in the Bible Literacy Project.

Stetson shared that he’s already reached out to the state superintendent twice.

OSDE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.