SKIATOOK, Okla. — Skiatook Public Schools received a two-page letter from an organization out of Wisconsin regarding a Bible verse posted in a classroom at the start of the school year.
The letter from the Freedom from Religion Foundation comes after a Bible verse was posted in a local Skiatook classroom, sparking debate about religion in schools.
“We work to protect the Constitutional principal of Separation of Church and State,” Freedom from Religion Foundation attorney Chris Line said.
Line said the letter to the district outlines what he calls violations.
The letter says a classroom had a sign from John 3:16, “For GOD so loved the world that he gave his only SON that whoever believes in him should not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE.”
It says another classroom had a sign that said, “He is still good,” which Line said he believes is from Daniel 3:18.
The letter asked Skiatook Public Schools to remove the signs.
Skiatook Public Schools didn’t return FOX23’s request for an interview or statement.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters has been an advocate of having religion in schools. Earlier this year, he backed a Tulsa Public School board member for praying at a graduation. He made a minute of silence for prayer every day in school mandatory.
“I will always stand by our teachers exercising their First Amendment right,” Walters said in a statement. “Here in Oklahoma, we are not going to let a radical secular organization out of Wisconsin bully our schools.”
Line said they’ve sent multiple letters to Walters since he took over office.
“We’ve asked him to resign because Ryan Walters has shown he’s incapable of performing the secular position of Secretary of Education,” Line said. “He’s intent on using his position to impose religion.”
According to Line, the Bible verse signs have since been taken down.
