ryan walters

[PF5]

GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin: Letting Oklahoma public school educators teach the Bible is a ‘slippery slope’ the hill

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said that letting Oklahoma public school educators teach the Bible is a “slippery slope” if the teachers “may not be believers” themselves.

Mullin, who sits on the Senate committee that oversees education, said that he wants his kids to know the Bible, “but I want it to be taught by someone that was taught the Bible themselves, too. I think it’s a slippery slope when you put it in the hands of teachers that may not be believers, that’s going to be teaching the word that can easily be taken out of context.”


“So if the state is going to require that, then the state should also be it be required that this taught by someone that graduated from seminary school,” Mullin said during his Wednesday appearance on NewsNation’s show “The Hill.”

“If you just leave it in the hands of a public school teacher that may be not able to actually teach it because they weren’t taught it themselves, then it can cause a tremendous amount of confusion,” he added.

The GOP senator’s remarks come a week after Oklahoma State’s Superintendent Ryan Walters did not shoot down the idea of a national mandate to require Bibles in schools.

“Look, I believe that if you’re teaching American history, the Bible absolutely has to be included. And we cannot allow left-wing activists to sit here and say we don’t like Christianity,” Walters said.

“You have to have it in the classrooms. We will ensure that history is taught in every class. That means kids will know American exceptionalism,” he said last week. “That means kids will know the role that faith played. We will be unapologetic about that here in Oklahoma. We want to make sure that every student knows the role that the Bible played in American history.”

Walters has garnered headlines because of the mandate in his home state of Oklahoma, which requires the Bible in all public school classrooms and that educators utilize lessons on the Bible’s impact on American culture and history. In October, the state’s top educator was sued over the policy by parents and other educators, arguing the mandate is unconstitutional.

When asked by NewsNation host Blake Burman on Wednesday if the state should “back off” of the mandate, the Mullin said that “unless they’re going to require a person that was trained in the Bible and graduated from seminary school or a different type of Bible school, then, yes, I do believe that’s probably the wrong move.”

 

[Stillwater Townie]

American exceptionalism is the idea that the USA is a unique and even morally superior country for historical, ideological, or religious reasons. Proponents of American exceptionalism generally pair the belief with the claim that the United States is obligated to play a special role in global politics.

American exceptionalism is outdated ever since the USA hasn't won most of the conflicts it's gotten involved in since after WW II. Going to war against Vietnam did not turn out to be morally superior. The Domino Theory given to save southeast Asia from Communism failed to be proven. Winning the 2nd war with Iraq was morally questionable since it was about winning control of the oil in that country.

Interesting that Washington was not much of an American exceptionalism fan. He warned the country not to get involved in foreign entanglements.

So, it seems that teaching of American history isn't complete unless students are taught what bible verses prominent figures, such as Lincoln and King referred to in their public writings and speeches. Don't see much controversy in a teacher doing that. But it's interesting how Republicans complain that government can't do anything right but somehow entrust government schools can do that right.

As Sen. Mullin would probably agree, religious instruction from the bible is best left up to parents and the churches they send their kids to. But not sure how much luck they will have in finding that the Ten Commandments are posted in the Sunday school rooms. Probably more likely to be found is an illustration or carving of a cross to remind everybody what Jesus died for. Under the First Amendment, it's not the religious responsibility of the state to fill in for what the churches won't do.

 

[CowboyJD]

GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin: Letting Oklahoma public school educators teach the Bible is a ‘slippery slope’ the hill

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said that letting Oklahoma public school educators teach the Bible is a “slippery slope” if the teachers “may not be believers” themselves.

Mullin, who sits on the Senate committee that oversees education, said that he wants his kids to know the Bible, “but I want it to be taught by someone that was taught the Bible themselves, too. I think it’s a slippery slope when you put it in the hands of teachers that may not be believers, that’s going to be teaching the word that can easily be taken out of context.”


“So if the state is going to require that, then the state should also be it be required that this taught by someone that graduated from seminary school,” Mullin said during his Wednesday appearance on NewsNation’s show “The Hill.”

“If you just leave it in the hands of a public school teacher that may be not able to actually teach it because they weren’t taught it themselves, then it can cause a tremendous amount of confusion,” he added.

The GOP senator’s remarks come a week after Oklahoma State’s Superintendent Ryan Walters did not shoot down the idea of a national mandate to require Bibles in schools.

“Look, I believe that if you’re teaching American history, the Bible absolutely has to be included. And we cannot allow left-wing activists to sit here and say we don’t like Christianity,” Walters said.

“You have to have it in the classrooms. We will ensure that history is taught in every class. That means kids will know American exceptionalism,” he said last week. “That means kids will know the role that faith played. We will be unapologetic about that here in Oklahoma. We want to make sure that every student knows the role that the Bible played in American history.”

Walters has garnered headlines because of the mandate in his home state of Oklahoma, which requires the Bible in all public school classrooms and that educators utilize lessons on the Bible’s impact on American culture and history. In October, the state’s top educator was sued over the policy by parents and other educators, arguing the mandate is unconstitutional.

When asked by NewsNation host Blake Burman on Wednesday if the state should “back off” of the mandate, the Mullin said that “unless they’re going to require a person that was trained in the Bible and graduated from seminary school or a different type of Bible school, then, yes, I do believe that’s probably the wrong move.”

Markwayne: teaching the Bible in public schools is a slippery slope…..

me: please say towards a violation of the 1st Amendment clause

MarkWayne: unless you have professional religious indoctrinators teaching it…

Me: