Although Ryan Walters is fading further into right-wing think-tank oblivion, the effort to force – or perhaps sneak – the Bible into classrooms is still going strong at the Oklahoma Capitol.
Last week, State Senator Jerry Alvord – a rising right-wing rancher from Wilson – filed SB 1422.
Dubbed the “Let’s Continue to Force Religion on Kids Indoctrination Act,” the bill would require every Oklahoma public school district to adopt an official prayer policy and carve out time each school day for “voluntary,” state-sanctioned Bible reading.
If that sounds like a very targeted attack on freedom of (and from) religion that promotes one brand of beliefs over another, it is, but don’t worry – they’re going to let other religions participate, too.
Here’s a snippet from the bill:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 11-101.1, is amended to read as follows:
A. The board of education of each public school district and the governing body of each public charter school shall permit those students and employees who wish to do so to participate in voluntary prayer.
B. The board of education of each public school district and the governing body of each public charter school shall adopt a policy requiring that students and employees be given an opportunity to participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text during each school day.
On a scale of 1-10 – with 1 being a moment of silence during the morning announcements and 10 requiring a credentialed baptism to earn a diploma – I’d rank this a solid 5 on the “Wacky Ways Oklahoma Nutjobs Try To Break Down the Sacred Wall Between Church and State” scale.
Based on all the other bat-shit crazy stuff we’ve seen over the years int his land of Trump bibles, it’s not that bad.
First off, it is technically “voluntary.”
Sure, it will put all the non-Christian kids in the position of having to pretend to be Christian or face social ostracization, but as a kid who had to fake his way through many prayers during church-league basketball games, that’s pretty easy to do.
In fact, I kind of enjoy the potential irony of a confused rural high school student consulting the Bible to determine if it’s okay to lie about believing in a religion just to stay cool with all their friends.
Also, as the bill mentions, other religious texts are allowed. I guess Alvord included that important provision for a couple of reasons. One, it helps the bill pass free-exercise muster. Two, it lets the Christian students know exactly which kids they should judge and stay away from!
"Mommy, can we invite Liam to my birthday party."
"Sorry sweety. He doesn't goto bibke time each morning?"
Although this bill is dumb, and just another attack of the first amendment by right wing Christians, there are at least some provisions and protections to prevent from going overboard.
• It shall prohibit the provision of a prayer or reading of the Bible or other religious text over a public address system.
• It shall specify that a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text may not be a substitute for instructional time.
Question – If the prayer and Bible-reading time is voluntary and can’t replace instructional time, what’s the actual purpose of this bill?
Back when I went to school, there was no shortage of holy-roller kids wearing promise rings, blasting Carmen, and hauling a Bible from class to class like it was a Trapper Keeper. Has something changed? Are all those kids homeschooled now? Or did Oklahoma suddenly run out of teenagers who are really into Jesus?
Anyway, while we wait for those rhetorical questions to be answered, you can go ahead and read the full bill here. It’s just one of what I assume will be many pieces of legislation filed this session by lawmakers who treat the separation of church and state less like a hallowed constitutional principle and more like a personal challenge.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
