OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, and Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, expressed caution today over the State Superintendent’s most recent directive to mandate Bibles in public school classrooms as instructional support.  

“Following this new directive from the State Superintendent of Education, we advise school districts to carefully review and follow existing state law when it comes to religious instruction in schools,” Provenzano said.

“We know from the outcome of SQ 790 that Oklahomans are overwhelmingly against using public dollars to fund religious purposes. The Oklahoma Constitution is very clear on what is allowed when it comes to public education.  

“Religious instruction should begin with and remain in the rightful hands of parents and guardians. Today’s directive feels like an unprecedented attempt from the State Superintendent to distract from the reported investigations into financial mismanagement of tax dollars meant to support our schools.”

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, effective immediately, all Oklahoma school districts are required to incorporate the bible as instructional support in the curriculum throughout certain grade levels.

“The Superintendent should focus on running his department, not issuing ridiculous directives that are unconstitutional and don’t do anything to advance the goals he claims to be setting for Oklahoma public schools,” Waldron said.

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