Oklahoma State Superintendent of Education Ryan Walters has requested that all public schools in the state show a video of him praying to students and provide a copy of the video to parents. This move has sparked controversy, with some, including Senator Mark Mann, criticizing the request. Mann, a Democrat with experience in Oklahoma education, questioned the relevance of the video to the state's educational priorities, as reported by the Oklahoma Senate.
According to a statement from the Oklahoma Senate, Sen. Mann said, "Ryan Walters needs to focus on doing his job, and less on political theater," noting that the State Superintendent does not have the constitutional or legislative authority to enforce such a requirement on schools. Mann urged school districts to follow the guidance of their local school boards in making decisions for students and parents.
Senator Mann expressed frustration over the State Superintendent's actions, suggesting that the focus should be on improving educational outcomes, particularly in reading and math, where Oklahoma has faced challenges. He criticized Superintendent Walters for what he sees as a political agenda, stating, "When Oklahoma needs to make gains in reading and math scores, the last thing we need to be doing is pushing the superintendent's blatant, self-serving political agenda." Mann emphasized that the priority should be on students and their educational needs, rather than on political pursuits, as stated by the Oklahoma Senate.
