Oklahoma has recently made changes to its request for 55,000 Bibles to be placed in public schools, moving away from a version endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The revised request no longer mandates the inclusion of US historical documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, which were requirements of the 'God Bless the USA Bible' supported by Trump. These additional documents made the endorsed Bibles significantly more expensive compared to similar versions without them.
The initiative to introduce Bibles into public school classrooms is spearheaded by State Superintendent Ryan Walters, although it has faced opposition from some of Oklahoma's largest school districts. Walters emphasized the historical significance of the Bible in American history as the primary reason for its inclusion in classrooms, attributing misinformation about the program to what he referred to as the 'fake news media'.
Christa Helfrey, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), explained that the modifications to the request were made with the aim of reducing costs for taxpayers. By removing the specific requirements found in the 'God Bless the USA Bible,' the revised solicitation seeks to provide the necessary resources at a more affordable rate for Oklahomans.
The original request specified unique features not commonly found in standard Bibles, such as being bound in 'leather or leather-like material for durability.' The 'God Bless the USA Bible,' which Trump promoted earlier this year, is available for purchase at $59.99 on a dedicated website. However, alternative Bibles that do not include the additional US documents can be found online for less than $20.
