Bids opened Monday for a contract to supply the state Department of Education with 55,000 Bibles. According to the bid documents, vendors must meet certain specifications: Bibles must be the King James Version; must contain the Old and New Testaments; must include copies of the Pledge of Allegiance, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights; and must be bound in leather or leather-like material.
A salesperson at Mardel Christian & Education searched, and though they carry 2,900 Bibles, none fit the parameters.
But one Bible fits perfectly: Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the U.S.A. Bible, endorsed by former President Donald Trump and commonly referred to as the Trump Bible. They cost $60 each online, with Trump receiving fees for his endorsement.
Why are they putting bibles in classrooms in the first place? Did they repeal the First Amendment?
Apparently, the State Superintendent gets to decide what gets taught in classrooms, and how it gets taught is left up to individual school districts. But it’s fully within his right because no “commentary” is allowed around the Bible, just how important it was to America’s history.
Why that requires a physical copy that’s leather bound, I have no idea. Nor why the money has to come from the fucking payroll budget.
Oklahoma is ranked 49th in education, yet this is what we’re spending money on? Seriously?
I’m certain they take 49th with equal amounts salt and pride, as that means theres still a few states left to beat.
But they are top five in propaganda training!
They’re really gunning for 50th.
The first amendment doesn’t apply to Christian evangelism.
According to SCOTUS at any rate.
The Bible is really important for understanding western society and it’s history. It has a place in the classroom.
I’m sure that was not the motivation behind that law but it’s true.
There are history books that can contextually bring our students up to speed on what religious texts drove certain events/societies.
You’re not wrong but, thankfully, studying history and teaching the impact of things doesn’t require the things to physically be in the room.
It might fit into history if it hadn’t been changed and edited, sections omitted, additions made, for the entire time it existed. It was only the printing press that allowed us to have true copies for the masses.
It surely has a place in history, but not for psychology or sociology. In my opinion there is some value educationally but its very limited. There are even denominations that exclude books or add them, so it depends which religion you consider to be the “main” one.
To have a truly nuanced class about it, would have to be in college I would think.