OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A recorded prayer was emailed in an unlisted YouTube link to Oklahoma school superintendents, telling them to have the video shared in classrooms and with parents.
This is what the email to Oklahoma superintendents said:
Dear Superintendent:
We are in a dangerous time for this country. Student’s rights and freedoms regarding religious liberties are continuously under assault. The newly created Department of Religious Liberty and Patriotism will be working to thwart any attempts to disrupt our Oklahoma student’s fundamental freedoms.
In one of the first steps of the newly created department, we are requiring all of Oklahoma schools to play the attached video to all kids that are enrolled. We are also requiring that school districts send this video to all parents as well.
Students are encouraged but not required to join me in this prayer.
Sincerely,
Ryan Walters
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Oklahoma State Department of Education”
In part of the “Prayer for the Nation” video, Walters said, “I pray for our leaders to make the right decisions. I pray particularly for President Donald Trump.”
Walters also criticized what he calls the “radical left.”
In another portion of the recording, Walters said, “We’ve also seen patriotism mocked and a hatred for this country pushed by woke teachers unions.”
State leaders spoke to News 4 about the video.
“This is indoctrination,” said Representative Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman). “This is true indoctrination and it ignores local control at every level.”
Rep. Rosecrants says he’s also Christian, but said public schools are welcome to all faiths.
“You’re ignoring people who don’t believe all these different things. And I’m sorry, that’s what public schools are all about. You know, we teach the public, that’s everybody,” said Rep. Rosecrants.
News 4 reached out to larger school districts across the state. These are the schools who said they will not be sharing the video in classrooms or to parents:
- Bixby Public Schools
- Edmond Public Schools
- Moore Public Schools
- Mid Del Public Schools
- Mustang Public Schools
- Norman Public Schools
- Tulsa Public Schools
- Yukon Public Schools
Oklahoma City Public Schools told News 4:
OKCPS did receive the communication that was sent around 4 p.m. yesterday. District leaders will be meeting later this afternoon to discuss it.
Crystal Raymond, OKCPS Media Relations Manager
Representative Mark McBride (R-Moore) says he also prays for our nation and leadership. However, he believes this is a diversion from the mission of education.
“We’ve got such a deficiency in reading and mathematics. Those are the things that, in public education, I think we need to be focusing on, and not a culture war,” said Rep. McBride.
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office sent News 4 this statement in reference to the video:
There is no statutory authority for the state schools superintendent to require all students to watch a specific video. Not only is this edict unenforceable, it is contrary to parents’ rights, local control and individual free-exercise rights.
Office of the Attorney General
Both lawmakers believe Oklahoma schools should focus on ranking higher in education.
“It was never anything like, ‘You’re going to do what I tell you to do.’ It was always, ‘Let’s work together with the districts, figure it out and move forward,'” said Rep. Rosecrants.
“Circle back and figure out a way to fund education in a way that kids can learn and teachers can teach,” Rep McBride added.
Some districts told News 4 that the emails they received were recalled. We reached out to Supt. Ryan Walters’ office to see why.
OSDE Communications Director Dan Isett said it was a typographic error and that it was immediately corrected and resent.
To watch the full “Prayer to the Nation” video, click here.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation said it contacted Superintendent Ryan Walters Friday. They sent a statement that reads:
It is unconstitutional for school officials to subject students to religious propaganda. Ryan Walters’ prayer video is a blatant attempt to abuse his office to impose his personal religious beliefs on Oklahoma students. Local school districts should refuse to follow his unlawful directive.
Freedom From Religion Foundation
