Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction who tried to sell Trump-branded Bibles to classrooms across the state last year, released new curriculum standards in December that promote his Christian Nationalist version of American history.His demands are being ignored by the countrys top textbook publishers. Related MAGA education official orders schools to play video of him praying for Donald Trump The Oklahoma Superintendent of Schools also just spent $25,000 of state money on Trump Bibles. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, one of the worlds largest textbook publishers, didnt submit materials addressing Walters changes to Oklahomas social studies curriculum this year, according toOklahoma Watch, essentially writing off the state and Walters demands. Oklahoma isnt a very large state, in terms of number of students, meaning that any specially created textbooks from the state wouldnt likely sell well in other states, making compliance to his demands unprofitable. 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Subscribe to our Newsletter today Two smaller publishers also opted out of submitting books because they refused to rewrite history according to Walters Biblical and conspiracy-laden worldview.Walters new standards for social studies in the state themselves are a textbook example of far-right indoctrination.Just one instance among many reveals Walters slavish devotion to the president and Trumps own American history rewrite of the 2020 election, in a high school social studies lesson plan.Identify discrepancies in 2020 elections results, one of Walters instruction reads, by looking at graphs and other information, including the sudden halting of ballot-counting in select cities in key battleground states, the security risks of mail-in balloting, sudden batch dumps, an unforeseen record number of voters, and the unprecedented contradiction of bellwether county trends.Another asserts as fact that the COVID-19 virus originated in a Chinese lab, which hasnt been proven but is a longstanding claim by Trump.In the same lesson plan, students are encouraged to evaluate Trumps first term agenda, but only before the onset of the COVID pandemic.The schools chief also packs the new lesson plans with his Christian Nationalist interpretation of Americas founding. Second graders are taught stories from Christianity that influenced the American colonists, Founders, and culture, including the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth (e.g., the Golden Rule, the Sermon on the Mount).Eighth graders are told to Evaluate the role of Judeo-Christian ideals in supporting colonial demands for independence, as exemplified by the Bible being a frequently cited authority by Americas Founders.And high schoolers are directed to Describe how the Constitution of the United States was influenced by religion, morality, and the Bible as a frequently cited authority by Americas founders. Walters claim that the Bible was a frequently cited authority by Americas founders is generous at best, and at odds with their near-universal adherence to secular Enlightenment principles advanced by philosophers like John Locke in his landmark text Two Treatises of Government.A few publishers have tweaked language in online versions of their textbooks, wording that could appease Walters but still rejects conspiracy theories like Trumps unfounded and unproven claim that the 2020 election was rigged. The online versions merely note that courts found no basis for Trumps election fraud claims.Walters new lesson plans go into effect with the start of the school year this fall, despite his failure to get publishers on board with his indoctrination campaign. Its ultimately left to individual teachers and school districts, however, whether or not those subversions of history make it into their classrooms. Last July, Walters asked the state government to give him $3 million to buy 55,000 copies of a Trump-branded and signed Bible that included the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, in a not-so-subtle mingling of church and state. The Bibles were to be distributed to every 5-12 classroom in the state.At least 13 of the states largest school districts refused, saying the order violated constitutional and state education laws.Walters, who wants toban LGBTQ+ books in schools, has pushed the transphobic lie about schoolsproviding litterboxes to students and referred to teachers unions as terrorist organizations. Hes also tried unsuccessfully to impinge on legislators and local officials authority to make rulesbanning LGBTQ+ content in schools and to bar trans students and staff from bathrooms aligning with their gender identity.In 2024, Walters recruited Libs of TikToks Chaya Raichik, the terminally online scold and anti-LGBTQ+ activist, as Oklahomas Library Media Advisor.Raichik has no experience as an educator or librarian, but her anti-LGBTQ+ social media posts have led to death threats against students, educators, health professionals, businesses, and queer allies.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.