Oklahoma’s Republican State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, declared that “conservatives are winning on education” during a panel at the Family Research Council’s Pray, Vote, Stand Summit. Walters urged conservatives to continue pushing for reforms in public schools, particularly in returning to what he described as “American values” and the inclusion of religious teachings, such as the Bible, in the classroom.
Walters emphasized the significance of the Bible in understanding U.S. history, questioning how American heritage can be taught without referencing its religious foundations. “How do you explain our rights coming from God without talking about the Bible?” he asked, defending his initiative to include the Bible in every classroom in Oklahoma. He argued that removing religious influence from schools has been part of a broader effort by the political Left to transform schools into “indoctrination centers.”
Walters also touched on the failed attempt to establish the first Catholic charter school in the U.S., expressing disappointment over the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision to block it. He assured the audience that Oklahoma is appealing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, emphasizing that parents should have the right to send their children to religious schools if they choose.
The discussion highlighted the ongoing national debate over education policies. Walters critiqued the lack of attention given to education in recent presidential debates, attributing it to an effort to avoid exposing the “radical, Marxist agenda” that he claims Democrats are promoting. He contrasted this with conservative values, such as promoting universal school choice and teaching “American greatness” and Christian influence in history.
Walters encouraged conservatives to take an aggressive stance on education, arguing that Republicans have historically taken a passive approach. “Our education system has been hijacked by socialists. You have to get it back and then you’ve got to be aggressive, play offense,” he said.
He concluded by emphasizing that parents, not school administrators, should be the primary decision-makers for their children’s education, asserting that “Americans are sick and tired of backing down to woke mobs” and are eager for a return to traditional values in schools.
