David S. Bernstein: Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters issued this memo today requiring teachers in all schools to keep a Bible in their classroom and teach from it as a historical document. (Via KOCO 5 News)

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters issued this memo today requiring teachers in all schools to keep a Bible in their classroom and teach from it as a historical document. (Via KOCO 5 News)

… Ha look at the Times ‘breaking’ this story that we’ve been mocking for two hours already bsky.app/profile/nyti...

Breaking News: Oklahoma’s state superintendent directed all public schools to teach the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, in the latest conservative push testing the boundaries between religious instruction and public education.

Oklahoma’s State Superintendent Requires Public Schools to Teach the Biblewww.nytimes.com The state superintendent, Ryan Walters, said the Bible was a “necessary historical document” that must be taught in certain grades.

Related: bsky.app/profile/torr...

UPDATE: “In a closely watched case, Oklahoma’s highest court blocked what was set to become the nation’s first religious charter school. An appeal is likely.” www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/u...

Oklahoma Supreme Court Says No to State Funding for a Religious Charter Schoolwww.nytimes.com In a closely watched case, Oklahoma’s highest court blocked what was set to become the nation’s first religious charter school. An appeal is likely.

Ok class today’s lesson is on the Jubilee, in which all debts were forgiven after 7 years. Next week, how rich people suck ass and can’t get into heaven.

"And here in Exodus 21:22-23 we learn that if someone punches a pregnant woman and she dies, the attacker is to be executed, taking "a life for a life"; but if she only miscarries, the penalty is only a fine. Anyway, back to our lesson about Roe v. Wade..."

A *free* pregnant woman. Same section of Exodus makes clear it has no interest in whether a pregnant slave woman miscarries and precious little interest in protecting any slaves from attacks. This is one of the under appreciated attractions of the Bible for the confederate crowd.

You can beat a slave nearly to death, no foul. Just gotta make sure she or he lives through it.

@slacktivistfred.bsky.social has been explaining how the roots of modern American evangelicalism come from its part in slavery and subsequent racist response to civil rights for decades.

But yet the Confederates still had to use an edited Bible because it wasn't quite cruel enough

Tell 'em about those 50 shekels.

And on the shmita, Where after 49 years all land is given back to its original owner. Which is why next year Lakota will be a required language course.

Ooh! Let's have the kindergarteners recite the Song of Songs!

Trolling as Education Policy. (Also, as a history teacher I don't think they want us to teach any lessons the historiocity of the bible. The opportunities for malicious compliance are endless.)

Gah. I hate typos. "historicity"

Hysteriocity

Hystrocity

Hysterectomy

Histrionics.

Indeed The Bible as historical document is a LOT different from the Bible as holy scripture

Also a lot different from The Bible as a geometry textbook or as a physics lab manual. As in it has no logical place in those classrooms except perhaps as a shim to keep a desk from wobbling. The chemistry teacher could at least use it to demonstrate the flash point of paper.

This is exactly how I would respond. It is, in fact, a historical document. Now, let's have a look at that history.

Reading about how the Bible was written during confirmation class turned me staunchly agnostic on the spot

Book of Judges.

And the rest of the historical books. "So-and-so was the worst king ever, and he sent governors who were really horrible to oppress the people, and he oppressed travellers and immigrants."

Oh I was just thinking about this. To be in the delightfully evil position of being able to show kids the admissions of atrocity in the Bible as well as the actual original commandments and how silly they were...

Histriopocrisy

This is the one who hired Libs of TikTok right?

yea

Also one who has clearly never read any translation of "The Bible."

Were I an OK teacher, my immediate reaction would be to order a copy of every "holy book" of every religion I could think of, and shelve them all together.

If that's what makes you just an OK teacher, I'd be floored to see what makes you a GREAT teacher.

The gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4GP...

Flying Spaghetti Monsterwww.youtube.com YouTube video by Doctor P - Topic

A toast to OK teachers everywhere.

But only in the closest to original language version of available for all of them, obviously

The Bible and the Silmarrillion

I'd simply refuse to do it and collect my big check after suing them for illegally firing me.

Ya see, kids, and then the daughters got their dad drunk and had (whispers) S-E-X with their dad! Twice! Now off to recess!

No, you see, it really happened! IT'S A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT!!

And teach them as works of literature.

As an elective.

Please yes, teach kids the earth is only 5328 years old, or that it’s okay to stone people to death for doing yard work on the Sabbath. No way that doesn’t backfire.

"Kids, if your neighbor is doing yard work on Sunday, you must go throw rocks at them. The State and the Bible say so."

Eagerly awaiting comment from Oklahoma schools advisor Chaya Raichik, who is supposedly helping them to decide what books should be used in the classroom.

The Bible talkes about nakedness. Definitely not suitable for children.

Not to mention horse-size dicks.

The story of Lot is definitely not appropriate material for elementary school. youtu.be/bar3GOzDNzg?...

The Professor Brothers - Bible History #1 (Sodom & Gomorrah)youtu.be The Professor Brothers

Well, first, let's talk about what went on in those two cities

The video goes over that if you need a refresher.

"here it says they didn't do anything to take care of the sick, poor, elderly, ..."

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