Bible is being taught to children in government schools of Oklahoma state of America. There is a demand by people to stop this. However, a controversy has arisen regarding this and now the court has been approached. Let us know what the whole matter is.
Rule made mandatory
In June 2024, officials of the Department of Education in the US state of Oklahoma ordered that teaching the Bible in schools would be mandatory from now on. State Education Minister Ryan Walters, who comes from the Republican Party, said that this rule will apply to everyone and everyone will have to follow it strictly. This rule implemented in Oklahoma was for children between the ages of 11 and 18. In this way, they are being taught about the holy book of Christianity in school.
Similarly, in Louisiana too, the governor signed a law, under which it was made mandatory to display ten religious rules in all schools. However, voices of protest have slowly started rising against the rule of the state government. Some parents, teachers and religious leaders of Oklahoma approached the court to stop this rule. They have said that the rule imposed by the government on schools should be stopped.
What is said in the petition?
The petition filed in the court against the government's order has demanded that the state should not force schools to teach the Bible. Also, the expenditure of about 30 lakh dollars being given by Education Minister Walters for purchasing Bibles should also be stopped. The petition said that this rule violates the Constitution of Oklahoma because in this government money is being used to promote a religious text.
One religion is being given preference over the other. Several civil rights organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom from Religion Foundation are involved in this case. However, this is not the first lawsuit challenging the government's rule. A similar lawsuit was filed in June and is currently pending in May County.
The state finds itself at a crossroads, with educational policy on one side and constitutional rights on the other. The outcome of these lawsuits could set a precedent for religious freedom and education practices in schools across the country.