LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – As the new year closes in, 7News is counting down the top 7 stories which caught the eyes of viewers in 2024.
To reflect the countdown to 2025 these stories are being reexamined to determine if they still hold relevance as we transition into the new year.
One such story is the battle over religion in Oklahoma Public Schools.
The actions and rhetoric of Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, along with a few select bills introduced into the state Legislature this year, caused shock waves to be felt not just in Oklahoma City, but right here in Southwest Oklahoma, as well.
The movement began with a bill which sought to allow chaplains in public schools. The bill would have allowed public school districts in the state to employ or accept volunteer chaplains.
This move was quickly met with pushback from the Democrats within the Legislature. However, the bill did end up passing the House by a vote of 54-37.
What caught the eyes of southwest Oklahomans was when the Satanic Temple announced that if the bill passes, they too will be placing their own ministers within public schools in the state.
The bill then failed to get past the senate chamber.
That said, this was not the last time the Satanic Temple announced plans for Oklahoma this year. After a bill was sent to the governor’s desk which would allow students to receive class credits for religious and moral instruction off school campuses, the group spoke up again.
In a social media post, the Satanic Temple stated their Academy of Independent Learning (HAIL) could soon be available for Oklahoma students. The post ended with the group asking if Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt will be the first to award school credit for courses taught by The Satanic Temple.
Unlike the first bill, this bill did get signed into law by the governor.
Of course, things didn’t end there. After the legislative session ended, Walters decided to send a memo mandating the incorporation of the Bible into lessons for Grades 5 through 12.
Legislators from this part of the state and outside civil rights groups sounded the alarms claiming the move to either be unconstitutional or simply a distraction from real problems being faced by public schools.
“Again, I would rather have, technology,” said Daniel Pae. “How do we support our teachers – that way they are being successful in the classroom. Those sorts of things.”
“We can’t allow Walters to continue this,” stated Freedom from Religion Foundation Staff Attorney, Chris Line. “It seems as if he almost wants to be a theocratic leader in Oklahoma. He is trying to push Christianity in any way that he can. This being the most extreme thing we have seen so far.”
Despite this push back, Walters marched on eventually purchasing more than 500 bibles to be used in AP government classes.
Walters has even requested 3 million dollars from the legislature to purchase more bibles for classrooms. This request was also met with swift pushback from some in Southwest Oklahoma.
Heading into the new year, more political fights over the role religion should play in Public Schools are likely to get more fierce as we get ever closer to the 2026 race for governor.
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