Ryan Walters (pictured above) contends the Bible is so interwoven into the nation's history that children need to be taught that truth instead of it being purposely left out. During his visit Thursday to AFN's studios, he shared that one organization suing him over the plan is the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF).
"They like to sue us, it seems, like almost every week," he said. "We've seen a continued effort by these atheist groups from around the country to try to bully and intimidate our parents, teachers, and students. They don't want any kids praying in our schools. They don't want us to use the Bible in the classrooms.
"Well, here's the reality," Walters continued. "We're doing what the people of Oklahoma want. It's what we need to be doing to get education back on track."
Walters added that his team returned the favor, suing FFRF because it chose to go after an elementary school student in the Sooner State for praying on his own volition in his school district.
"That just shows you the type of folks we're talking about here," he exclaimed. "They are willing to attack a fourth grader for saying a voluntary prayer at his school – and we're just not going to tolerate it in Oklahoma. We're going to stand up for our folks [and their] ability to exercise their right to express their religious beliefs."
The education head contends FFRF doesn't have standing to pursue a case against a young student who was clearly within his constitutional rights.
"We told them to get out of our schools; we told them to leave our kids alone," Walters told AFN. "We're going to continue to stand up for our citizens and stand up for the rights that, frankly, have been trampled on now for the last few decades.
"We have got to take a stand," he concluded. "These groups aren't going away."
