Comanche County superintendents respond to Biblical guidelines

Four Comanche County superintendents have reacted to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walter’s guidelines on Bible and Ten Commandment curriculum.

The guidelines, which were released in late July, say the Bible should be used as an instructional support. If a student is learning about art history, more specifically a sculpture of David by Michelangelo, they would learn about how the Bible inspired Michelangelo to create his masterpiece, under the mandate. They will not teach biblical lessons, but instead how the Bible helped shape Western Civilization, for example.

Lawton Superintendent Kevin Hime said the new mandate doesn’t change how Lawton has been teaching for years. Since the mandate was declared two months ago, schools wouldn’t have time to change their curriculum within two months or even weeks, he said.

“Nothing is done that fast,” Hime said.

Hime also said the district can’t change anything for the 2024-2025 school year, but things may change for 2025-2026. The state decides the standards, he said, while the resources for said standards are developed and approved by the local board of education. When to teach is approved by the district, how they’re taught is approved by the teachers’ autonomy.

Cache Superintendent Chad Hance said his district is searching for ways to implement the guidelines appropriately.

“There are still questions that we have about the guidelines, but we will continue to teach the Oklahoma State Standards and provide the appropriate resources needed for our teachers to help our students reach their full potential,” Hance said.

Even though the Bible has made an impact in the country’s history, Hance said the directive puts teachers in the parents’ place when teaching the tome’s meaning to their kids.

“I recognize the Bible has historic value,” Hance said. “But to have teachers interpret the meaning of the text without the proper training, as well as having a difference of opinion on religion…. It puts the teacher in a place where it’s the parent’s choice to interpret the meaning of the Bible and how it should be used.”

Elgin Superintendent Nathaniel Meraz said his district will “commence the school year as we normally have in years past.”

When it comes to how much fees and materials will cost, everyone except LPS said they have no funding or word on funding.

Hime said his district won’t need to buy any Bibles since they’re already on mobile devices.

“The only mandate or guideline is to put Bibles in classrooms,” Hime said.

Geronimo Public Schools, Cache Public Schools, Elgin Public Schools and Lawton Public Schools reacted to the guidelines within the past three weeks. Bill Pascoe, superintendent of Geronimo, said his district will continue to follow the law.

“It doesn’t change what we do,” Pascoe said.

Several state school districts, including Norman Public Schools, Moore Public Schools, Stillwater Public Schools, Bixby Public Schools, Yukon Public Schools, and the Deer Creek School District, have said they won’t follow the directive but will stick with their approve curriculum.