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OKLAHOMA CITY 鈥� Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters issued guidelines Wednesday for how teachers should include the Bible in public school curriculum that include requiring analysis of biblical stories and art.

And amid a growing swell of pushback from districts, he warned there would be consequences for school districts that don鈥檛 comply.

Grade-level specific guidelines apply to students in fifth through 12th grades. They require students to analyze literary elements of biblical stories and to identify how those have impacted Western culture. For high school students, it entails assigned essays on the Bible鈥檚 role in literature, history and culture. Pieces of art and music inspired by the Bible are also required to be taught.

Every classroom must also have a physical copy of the Bible, the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments.

鈥淭he Bible is indispensable in understanding the development of Western civilization and American history,鈥� Walters said in a statement. 鈥淭o ensure our students are equipped to understand and contextualize our nation, its culture, and its founding, every student in Oklahoma will be taught the Bible in its historical, cultural, and literary context. As we implement these standards, our schools will maintain open communication with parents to make sure they are fully informed and full partners in their kids鈥� education.鈥�

Walters the inclusion of the Bible in state curriculum during a June State Board of Education meeting, but Wednesday was the first time his agency announced specific guidelines regarding their inclusion.

In the weeks since Walters鈥� announcement, some of the state鈥檚 have said they will not comply.

Following the announcement, Rick Cobb, superintendent of Midwest City-Del City Public Schools, said in a statement that it is not appropriate to mandate the Bible to be in classrooms or instruction.

鈥淭he Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled this summer that selection of instructional materials is a matter of local control,鈥� Cobb said. 鈥淚 hope that remains the law and continues to be our practice.鈥�

Walters said he will ensure all districts comply.

鈥淪ome Oklahoma educators have indicated they won鈥檛 follow the law and Oklahoma standards, so let me be clear: they will comply, and I will use every means to make sure of it,鈥� he said.

Mixed reaction and questions about legality

The new guidelines drew mixed reactions.

Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of state-church watchdog group Freedom From Religion Foundation, said the guidelines are unconstitutional.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just absurd,鈥� Gaylor said. 鈥淎nd he鈥檚 just signaling as fast as he can, as loud as he can, that he expects schools to brainwash children in the Christian religion.鈥�

While the group is working with a coalition of other organizations to determine a plan of action, Gaylor said they are taking time to digest the material.

Gaylor said it would be appropriate for a properly trained teacher to offer an optional class to high school students on the Bible.

鈥淏ut what he鈥檚 saying is every single teacher is to be given a Bible, and that鈥檚 just simply unconstitutional,鈥� Gaylor said. 鈥淲hat about giving every teacher the Quran? What about giving every teacher Richard Dawkins鈥� blockbuster book, 鈥楾he God Delusion鈥�?鈥�

Chuck Stetson, CEO of the NewYork-based Bible Literacy Project, said he commends the guidelines and wishes they would be implemented in every public school nationwide.

鈥淭his is educational instructions [to] the public schools, and it鈥檚 perfectly legal, and it鈥檚 what kids need to know,鈥� Stetson said.

The organization provides textbooks on the Bible鈥檚 literature and influence. Stetson said the guidelines have similarities to the organization鈥檚 textbooks.

Not including the Bible in public schools disadvantages students, he said.

鈥淔or example, in Shakespeare, there are over 1,200 biblical references in the 38 plays of Shakespeare,鈥� Stetson said. 鈥淢y contention is that if you don鈥檛 know the Bible, you can鈥檛 possibly know Shakespeare and what he鈥檚 talking about.鈥�

Stetson said the Bible is the 鈥渕ost-read literary book in the world,鈥� and students miss out on literary and historical context when the Bible is not taught.

However, Stetson said he was unsure how the additions to curriculum could be implemented in lower grade levels.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on and .

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