Oklahoma Superintendent Clashes with CNN Host Over Bible Mandate in Schools

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters engaged in a heated exchange with CNN host Pamela Brown over his controversial mandate to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into public school lessons.

The segment, which aired on CNN Newsroom, centred around Walters’ decision to require the inclusion of religious texts in the state’s curriculum despite ongoing legal challenges.

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters got into a heated back-and-forth with CNN host Pamela Brown over public schools using the Bible in lessons. BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The confrontation began when Brown asked Walters about the backlash against his mandate, especially in light of a petition with over 14,000 signatures from parents who opposed the move. Walters accused the “left,” including CNN, of spreading misinformation about the initiative.

“I have continued to hear the gaslighting from the left, frankly, even from this network, pushing lies about what’s going on across America,” Walters said. “President Trump has a clear mandate. He wants prayer back in school.

He wants radical leftism out of the classroom, wants our kids to be patriotic, and wants parents back in charge of school choice. We’re enacting that agenda here in Oklahoma. That’s what our parents want.”

Brown quickly rebuffed Walters’ claim, emphasising that her inquiry was not about a political agenda but the petition signed by thousands of concerned parents. “It’s not a left-wing narrative,” Brown countered. “I’m talking about a petition that parents have signed that’s gotten more than 14,000 signatures that have raised this issue.”

Pamela Brown asked Walters about the backlash over his mandate to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into public schools, amid an ongoing lawsuit against it during her segment. CNN

In his response, Walters reiterated that the Constitution supports religious liberty and that the “left doesn’t want our kids to know anything about the role the Bible played in American history.” Brown pushed back, stating that the Constitution does not mention God and that religious liberty is a nuanced issue. “The Constitution is not crystal clear on that,” Brown said. “It doesn’t have God in it.”

Brown argued back that the Constitution “is not crystal clear on that” and “doesn’t have God” in it. CNN

Despite the disagreement, Walters maintained that the Bible is a “historical document” that should be part of the educational curriculum. “Look, CNN doesn’t have to like it. Left-wing activists don’t have to like it,” he said. “But the reality is, the American people have rejected this gaslighting and have put President Trump back in the White House with a clear agenda, and we are going to stand right behind the president every step of the way.”

Walters responded that the Constitution was clear about religious liberty and that the “left doesn’t want our kids to know anything about the role the Bible played in American history.” NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Brown continued to challenge Walters on whether teaching graphic parts of the Bible, such as violent or sexual content, was appropriate for students and whether other religious texts, like the Quran or the Book of Mormon, should also be included. Walters responded by emphasising that the Bible’s influence on American history was unique and that no other religion had the same impact on the country’s foundations.

Walters’ mandate, which took effect in June, requires schools to integrate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into the grades 5 through 10 curriculum. While the mandate has sparked debate, several schools in Oklahoma have refused to adopt the changes, citing concerns over the separation of church and state.

Walters enacted his mandate for schools to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into the curricula for grades 5-10 in June. CNN

In the final moments of the segment, Brown made it clear that her role was to represent the concerns of critics and the public. “I’m talking about your critics and whether you’re willing to consider their point of view,” she said. “You oversee an entire education system in Oklahoma with people with varying viewpoints. And we want to bring that to light.”

Despite the ongoing controversy, Walters remained steadfast in his belief that his mandate reflects the values of Oklahoma’s voters. He stressed that his administration would continue to push forward with the initiative as part of a broader effort to align state education policies with the agenda of former President Donald Trump.

Sola Adeniji

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