The use of the Holy Bible in state classrooms was addressed this week in a letter to Piedmont school patrons from Superintendent Drew Eichelberger.
Piedmont Schools will continue to teach the Bible but will not add to the curriculum as directed by State Schools Superintendent Ryan Walters.
In a letter to patrons Eichelberger wrote, “Teaching any specific religious doctrine or practice is not a part of the current standards.”
This month, Walters announced that he wanted to empower schools to teach from sources such as The Bible. Walters sent a letter to state school districts reportedly ordering them to incorporate the Bible “for grades 5 through 12, citing its importance as a historical document, according to an article in The Oklahoman by Murray Evans.
Deer Creek and Yukon schools also have announced the districts have rejected the Walters’ directive.
Eichelberger’s letter this week reads:
“Piedmont students have been and will continue to be allowed to bring their own religious texts, including the Bible, to school,” Eichelberger wrote in a letter to patrons in the district Monday.
“Piedmont School and District administrators are busy preparing to welcome our students and teachers back to school after a well-deserved summer break. As we anticipate the start of another great school year, I want to share a few updates regarding the use of foundational texts in classrooms at Piedmont Schools.
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction recently sent a memo regarding using foundational texts in Oklahoma classrooms. The state-approved curriculum that Piedmont Schools adopted adheres to the current Oklahoma State Academic Standards. The current standards acknowledge the significant influence of various religions in world history and culture. Studies include discussions on the impact of religion in shaping societies, traditions, and historical events. Piedmont Schools has adhered to these standards since their implementation in 2019.
Additionally, students are not prohibited from using their library access or district-provided technology devices to access religious texts.
“However, it is important to clarify that while students learn about religion’s role in historical and cultural contexts, teaching any specific religious doctrine or practice is not a part of the current standards,” Eichelberger wrote.
The letter continued, “Our goal is to continue providing a respectful environment that acknowledges various perspectives while adhering to the set and approved Oklahoma educational standards. As an additional resource (Research courtesy of Moore Public Schools), we have provided a few examples from the current Oklahoma State Academic Standards where religious references are made below.
We look forward to another year of student learning and growth. We appreciate your support and involvement in your student’s education. We are better together,” Eichelberger wrote.
Yukon, Superintendent Jason Simeroth released a statement about the ongoing issue.
The statement reads, “Yukon Public Schools will continue to support our adopted curriculum which adheres to the Oklahoma State Academics Standards (OSAS), approved by the Oklahoma State Legislative body. As a district, we are committed to following our district approved curriculum. Schools are able to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of religion’s role in human history and culture while respecting the beliefs in our community.”
. For example: in History: Religious texts can be studied as historical documents, exploring their impact on societies, cultures, and civilizations, such as studying the impact of the Bible on the development of Western civilization.
Simeroth states that in literature works from religious texts can be analyzed as literary pieces, focusing on themes, characters, and writing styles. A literature class could analyze specific passages from the Bible as examples of poetry or prose. Comparative Religion: Students can learn about different religions by comparing their core beliefs, practices, and historical development through a comparative religion course studying the Bible, Quran, and Torah. In Philosophy class, religious texts can be examined for their philosophical ideas and contributions to human thought.
“We trust our teachers to use the curriculum as it’s intended to help our students achieve.” Simeroth wrote.
