Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) expressed concerns about allowing Oklahoma public school educators to teach the Bible, citing it as a potential “slippery slope” if the teachers themselves may not be believers.
According to Mullin, a member of the Senate committee responsible for education, he believes that it is important for his children to be familiar with the Bible. However, he emphasizes the importance of having teachers who have a strong understanding of the Bible themselves. Mullin is cautious about entrusting the teaching of the Bible to educators who may not share the same beliefs, as he believes that this could potentially lead to the misinterpretation of its teachings.
During his appearance on NewsNation’s show “The Hill,” Mullin emphasized the importance of having teachers who graduated from seminary school if the state is going to require religious education.
According to him, if the responsibility of teaching falls into the hands of a public school teacher who lacks the knowledge and training to effectively deliver the content, it can lead to significant confusion among students.
Last week, Oklahoma State’s Superintendent Ryan Walters left the possibility open for a national mandate to require Bibles in schools. Now, the GOP senator is echoing similar sentiments.
“I firmly believe that when teaching American history, it is essential to include the Bible. We cannot allow left-wing activists to dictate their disapproval of Christianity,” remarked Walters.
Last week, he emphasized the importance of incorporating history into classrooms, stating, “We will ensure that history is taught in every class. That means kids will know American exceptionalism.” Moreover, he highlighted the significance of faith, stating, “That means kids will know the role that faith played. We will be unapologetic about that here in Oklahoma. We want to make sure that every student knows the role that the Bible played in American history.”
Walters has been making news lately due to a controversial mandate in his home state of Oklahoma. This mandate requires the Bible to be present in all public school classrooms, and educators are required to teach lessons on the Bible’s influence on American culture and history. However, this policy has sparked a lawsuit, with parents and educators arguing that it is unconstitutional.
During an interview with NewsNation host Blake Burman, Mullin expressed his opinion on whether the state should reconsider the mandate. He stated that unless the requirement included individuals who have received religious training from a seminary or Bible school, he believed it would be an incorrect decision.