'What is being asked of us is to bend the law' Bixby superintendent says Bible mandate would open districts to lawsuits, if followed

Bixby Public Schools' superintendent announced his district will not change its current teaching standards following an attempt by State Superintendent Ryan Walters to require Bible teaching in schools, telling News 4 following Walters's requirement would put districts at legal risk.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Yet another Oklahoma school district superintendent has announced his district will not makes any changes to its current teaching standards, telling News 4 the attempt from State Superintendent Ryan Walters to require teachers to teach from the Bible would put school districts at legal risk, if followed.

Bixby Public Schools superintendent Rob Miller told News 4, the recent memorandum from Walters attempting to require all teachers in Oklahoma to have Bibles in the classrooms and teach from them has no basis in law, and following it would open up districts across Oklahoma to lawsuits.

Miller said it is important for himself and other superintendents to speak up, and voice their concerns about potential negative legal ramifications Walters’ mandate could have on districts.

“In essence, what is being asked of us is to bend the law, bend the existing statutes, bend the existing Supreme Court precedents to meet [Walters’] whims,” Miller told News 4 on Thursday. “And that's just not what we're going to do… If we start proselytizing or teaching the Bible specific content to students, it won't take long for people of other faith to start filing lawsuits against us.”

Miller sent a letter to parents on Thursday, telling them the district’s teachers will continue teaching to the current curriculum standards they already are following.

He told News 4, even if his—or any other—district wanted to implement Walters’ attempted requirements, OSDE has not given districts any guidance on how to do so.

“There are no explicit standards, as I said, that say that we must teach the Bible or that Bibles must be present in all classrooms,” Miller said. “I thought it was important to at least clarify some of the information that's out there and to put forth the policy that Bixby will follow, at least for the time being. Because the key part is, other than that original memo that we received a few weeks ago, there has been no additional guidance on how to actually implement what the State Superintendent would like to see, and to be able to work with teachers or in our school boards to approve those things. So we right now are just taking a position based on what we've been told to this point.”

News 4 previously reported Walters himself actually helped create the current standards.

Miller says those standards already allow for Bibles in schools—and his district plans to continue allowing them, but will not require them as Walters wants.

“Students and employees have the right to bring Bibles and other religious texts to school,” Miller said. They can pray, they can worship both individually and with groups. So no one is trying to stifle their rights for free expression.”

Miller’s letter, echoed similar statements from leaders in Moore and Norman Public Schools—who also recently announced they would continue to teach to their current standards moving forward.

Last week, News 4 reached out to OSDE spokesperson Dan Isett, seeking comments in response to Norman Public Schools’ vow to not require bible teaching.

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

Miller told News 4—Isett’s response seems unbecoming of someone representing a department that is supposed to help and work with Oklahoma’s public schools for the betterment of the children they serve.

“I don't think it's appropriate,” Miller said. “The way to move education forward in Oklahoma is to work with superintendents and recognize that we each have a role in moving education forward and serving our students.”

In response to Miller’s letter, and a similar one from Moore Public Schools’ Superintendent, Isett sent News 4 the following statement on Thursday:  

“Oklahoma students will be taught history and that includes the influence of the Bible as a founding document.  Any school violating the standards will have swift action taken to get them back on track.  Several Oklahoma school districts have shown more concern about keeping porn in schools rather than teaching actual history.  They may not like it, but they will do it.

Dan Isett, Spokesperson, Oklahoma State Department of Education

Meanwhile, Miller says the law is clear.

“There are numerous legal precedents that say that school districts have that autonomy,” he said. “I think most of us will agree with the State Superintendent, that religion certainly has a place in the study of history, the context of historical developments, development of culture, all of those types of things. But I think where the separation happens is... when you actually get into the Bible and start talking about specific content, I think it's a risky line to get to because the Supreme Court's been very clear about the role of educators and proselytizing and making sure that we're not unduly influencing students to believe one way or another.”

Miller said he’s glad to see other superintendents and districts pushing back recently against what he believes are attempts by Walters to exercise his power in ways he isn’t legally allowed.

Edmond Public Schools recently won against Walters in court after Walters attempted to lower the district’s accreditation if it did not obey an attempt by Walters to control which books were available in its libraries.

“I applaud the courage of Edmond Public Schools for taking this stand,” Miller said. "The Oklahoma Supreme Court was pretty clear in the Edmond case two months ago that the authority to choose curricular materials rests with that local Board of education and not with the state superintendent or the state Board of Education."

Miller believes, if Walters were to try and enforce his Bible mandate, it would have the same outcome in court.

“So if the State Department decided that they were going to be the accreditation of a school district for not complying with Mr. Walters directive on the Bible, I think that would be challenged in court, and I think that that district would prevail,” Miller said.