The WallBuilders Show Faith, Education, and the Bible in Oklahoma Schools- with Ryan Walters
Ryan Walters is turning Oklahoma education on its head, and the rest of America should take note. The state's Superintendent of Public Instruction joins the WallBuilders Show to share his revolutionary approach to transforming a system long dominated by teachers unions and progressive ideology.
At the core of Walters' education revolution is a simple but powerful concept: returning control to parents. "God gave kids to parents, not to government, not to bureaucracy, not to teachers unions," he explains with unwavering conviction. This philosophy drives his most promising initiative – bringing the Bible back into Oklahoma classrooms as essential historical and literary content.
Walters makes a compelling case that ignores modern educational dogma: "How do you learn American history without the Bible? How do you learn about literature without the Bible?" He points out the absurdity of excluding the most influential book in American history from education while challenging the 1960s Supreme Court decisions that removed Biblical content from schools. His approach has triggered multiple lawsuits, but he remains undeterred, confident that accurate historical education requires understanding the Bible's profound influence on American founding principles.
Beyond curriculum reform, Walters has implemented practical changes that directly address teacher satisfaction and student performance. He's introduced merit-based pay that rewards excellence ("If you're one of the best science teachers in the state, I want you to make more money"), restored classroom discipline, and provided real-time guidance for teachers handling complex current events like the Israel-Iran conflict. The results speak for themselves – record teacher recruitment despite national shortages.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Walters identifies his fellow Republicans as his greatest obstacle. Despite Oklahoma's Republican supermajority, he describes "an absolute dogfight" to implement conservative education reforms because "Republicans sell out to an establishment... rather than fight for the ideals America was founded on." This candid assessment reveals the true challenge of meaningful education reform – not just defeating progressive opposition but overcoming resistance within conservative ranks.
Ready to learn how your state can implement similar reforms? Listen now to discover Ryan Walters' practical roadmap for reclaiming education from bureaucracy and returning it to its foundational purpose.