Recently, Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced that over 500 Bibles had been purchased for use in school classrooms. He and President-elect Trump are working to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. (Not that they want uneducated Americans; they just don’t want the federal government involved in school affairs.) Walters said the Bibles would be placed in all Advanced Placement classes in the state, marking the first step toward having Bibles in all Oklahoma schools. The Oklahoma Department of Education had requested 55,000 Bibles to be ordered in the near future, but the request was withdrawn after receiving backlash. Walters confirmed spending as much as $6 million in taxpayer dollars on the Bibles, some of which may belong to Atheist, Jewish, Muslim, and other non-Christian students. (The Oklahoman)

Walters filmed a video announcement for the Department of Religious Freedom and Patriotism within the existing Oklahoma Department of Education. The Bibles used are most likely the “God Bless the U.S.A.” edition, endorsed by President-elect Trump. These Bibles are only available online and cost $60 each, significantly more expensive than standard Bibles without U.S. historical documents (e.g., the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, etc.). Ironically, the Bibles are printed in China, a country Trump has been outspoken in criticizing. Chinese factories produce the Bibles for less than $3 per book. (AP News)

In Louisiana, lawmakers attempted to pass a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom. However, a federal court ruled against this, stating that it violated the First Amendment by potentially singling out children, particularly those who are not Christian. (AP News)

Walters argues that the Bible is fundamental to American history. While it is true that the first Britons to set foot on American soil were searching for religious freedom, many school systems have pushed back, advocating for religious neutrality in public education.