Report: Norman Public Schools will not follow Walters’ attempted Bible mandate

NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) — Norman Public Schools will not require its teachers to teach from the Bible, despite a recent memorandum from State Superintendent Ryan Walters attempting to require them to do so, according to comments made by the district’s superintendent in a recent report.

In a report published by the Norman Transcript on Friday, Norman Public Schools (NPS) Superintendent Nick Migliorino is quoted saying NPS will not follow guidance laid out in a recent memo from State Superintendent Ryan Walters, in which Walters told districts teachers would be required to incorporate the Bible into their lessons.

“Effective immediately, all Oklahoma schools are required to incorporate the Bible, which includes the Ten Commandments, as an instructional support into the curriculum across specified grade levels,” the June 27 memorandum from Walters said.

Migliorino told the Norman Transcript, NPS does not plan to follow that memorandum.

“I’m just going to cut to the chase on that. Norman Public Schools is not going to have Bibles in our classrooms, and we are not going to require our teachers to teach from the Bible,” Migliorino told the Transcript. “The standards are clear and our curriculum is very clear. And we’re not going to deviate from that. I don’t know. I’m just going to be direct on that one.”

Migliorino went on to tell the newspaper NPS will continue to follow the legal standards already in place regarding usage of the Bible in school.

He said that means Norman schools will continue to have copies of the Bible available for students to read or for teachers to incorporate into lessons if they choose, but they will not make it a requirement.

“We’re gonna follow the law, we’re going to provide a great opportunity for our students, we’re going to do right by our students and right by our teachers, and we’re not going to have Bibles in our classrooms," he told the Transcript.

“It's comforting that Norman Public Schools wants to follow the law and wants to follow protocols and isn't going to follow a rogue executive edict from a state superintendent that doesn't respect the law,” State Senator Mary Boren (D-Norman) told News 4 on Friday.

Boren said Walters likes to talk a big game — but it’s just that.

“He doesn't even have executive power. I mean, he doesn't, he doesn't get to do an executive order that has legal impact on local school districts,” Boren said. “Legally, even though he can print all the paper he wants to, it doesn't have the backing of the Constitution, doesn't have the backing of state statute.”

A spokesperson for Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond told News 4 in June that state law “already explicitly allows Bibles in the classroom and enables teachers to use them in instruction” if they choose, but it does not require teachers to use them.

News 4 reached out to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) Friday to get Walters' response to Migliorino’s comments asserting NPS will not require teachers to teach the Bible.

“Oh yes they will,” is all OSDE spokesperson Dan Isett told News 4 in response.

Isett did not respond to a request for an interview with Walters, nor did he respond to an additional follow-up email asking him to clarify his brief statement.

Isett’s "oh yes they will" response raises eyebrows for Dan Nolan, a former foreign intelligence officer with the U.S. Air Force.

“You know what I hear? 'Führer befiehl wir folgen!'... ‘The Fuhrer commands and we follow!’” Nolan said. “That’s not democracy.”

After his military career, Nolan taught high school history for more than 30 years in Norman Public Schools. He retired last year.

He argues—forcing teachers to play the role of a preacher makes light of the work actually trained and ordained preachers do.

“I'm not a trained theologian,” Nolan said. “I didn’t go to seminary; That is something that is a core value that family should be involved in. This should not be something that is put forth by a state bureaucracy.”

Nolan says he’s glad to see his former superintendent speaking up.

“I commend Dr. Nick for standing up for what I think is right morally and constitutionally," Nolan said.

News 4 reached out to Norman Public Schools to speak with superintendent Migliorino on Friday.

A district spokesperson said Migliorino would not have enough time to speak with News 4 Friday afternoon due to meetings.