Oklahoma Schools to Shine a Light on Christianity's Role in History

 Last week, Oklahoma’s top education official updated the state’s proposed social studies guidelines. These changes aim to teach K-12 students about Christianity’s influence on the United States. According to Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, this move is about giving students the full story of our nation’s founding and the principles that make it exceptional. 

OK State School Superintendent Ryan Walters

The guidelines lay out what students should know and be able to do at different stages of their education. The state’s education department is open to public comments on the revised standards until January 21, 2025.

But hasn’t Oklahoma been down this road before? Earlier this year, Walters ordered public schools to teach 5th through 12th-grade students about the Bible. This led to a group of over thirty Oklahomans asking the state’s supreme court to block the mandate.

Last month, Walters also bought 500 Bibles for Advanced Placement Government classrooms throughout the state. And roughly a month before that, he announced plans to put 55,000 Bibles in classrooms all across Oklahoma.

This is such a wonderful idea that we, as South Carolinians, should contact our own Education Superintendent and encourage her to adopt a similar approach in our state. Let's champion this great endeavor together! 

 

SC State Superintendent of Education, Ellen Weaver

Ms. Weaver may be contacted at:

State Superintendent of Education
Ellen Weaver
849 Learning Lane,
West Columbia, SC 29172

Phone: 803-734-8500
Email: Superintendent@ed.sc.gov

Supreme Court Set to Tackle Planned Parenthood's Tax Funding Battle

 The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to tackle South Carolina's bid to cut off Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood. The state argues that Medicaid should assist low-income individuals with medical needs, not abortion providers. According to the Alliance Defending Freedom, representing South Carolina's DHHS, states should decide who gets state funding. Planned Parenthood counters that federal law prevents states from meddling in patients' choices of family planning providers. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against the state three times, maintaining funding for Planned Parenthood. The Supreme Court is set to hear the case before the spring session ends.

What's the backstory? In 2018, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order directing DHHS to drop abortion providers from the state's Medicaid list. Federal laws ban using Medicaid for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk. McMaster wanted to ensure no taxpayer dollars went to abortion providers, regardless of other services they offer. Planned Parenthood and Medicaid patient Julie Edwards sued, leading to a district court blocking the order.