Oklahoma superintendent clashes with CNN host over Bibles in schools

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters clashed with CNN anchor Pamela Brown over public schools using the Bible in lessons.

The “CNN Newsroom” anchor opened her segment with Walters by asking her about the reaction to his mandate to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into public schools, amid an ongoing lawsuit against her.

“I’ve continued to hear gaslighting from the left, frankly, even from this network, pushing lies about what’s happening across America,” Walters said. “President Trump has a clear mandate. He wants prayer back at school. He wants radical leftism out of the classroom, he wants our kids to be patriotic, he wants parents back in charge of school choice. We are implementing that agenda here in Oklahoma. This is what our parents want. Every county in Oklahoma voted for President Trump. His agenda is crystal clear and we will implement it in the state of Oklahoma.”

“I’m not going to take the bait of what you said about gaslighting this network on this,” Brown replied, following up with a question about a petition against his tenure.

“You know, I appreciate you pushing this leftist narrative here, but here’s the reality. Constitution,” Walters said before Brown cut him off.

“It’s not a left-wing narrative,” Brown said. “I’m literally talking about a petition that parents signed that got more than 14,000 signatures raising this issue.”

Walters responded that the Constitution was clear about religious freedom and that “the left doesn’t want our children to know anything about the role the Bible has played in American history.”

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

“Look, CNN must not like it. “Left-wing activists shouldn’t like it,” Walters said.

“I am only talking about facts. That’s not my opinion,” Brown replied.

“It is a historical document. The Bible is a historical document. You can’t rewrite history, okay?” Walters said.

Brown continued to press Walters on teaching graphic parts of the Bible and whether he should also focus on other religious texts such as the Koran or the Book of Mormon.

Walters noted that the Bible uniquely influenced American history in ways that other religions did not.

“And, again, look, the media doesn’t have to like it, but the reality is that the American people have rejected this gas and put President Trump back in the White House with a clear agenda, and we’re going to stay. right behind the president every step of the way,” Walters said.

“Alright. And, again, just to be clear, this is not about the media not liking him,” Brown concluded. “I’m talking about your critics and whether you’re willing to consider their point of view because, as you know, you oversee an entire education system in the state of Oklahoma with people of different views. And we want to bring that to light.”

Walters approved his mandate for schools to include the Bible and the Ten Commandments in curricula for grades 5-10 in June.

However, many Oklahoma schools insisted that they would not change their curriculum to include the Bible.