Sen. Mark Mann comments on Ryan Walters’ demand for schools to show video of himself praying

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Mark Mann, who was a member of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education for seven years, as well as previously serving within the State Department of Education, issued a statement on Friday after State Superintendent of Education Ryan Walters issued yet another demand – this one requiring all Oklahoma public schools to show their students a video of Walters praying and to send it to their parents.

“Ryan Walters needs to focus on doing his job, and less on political theater. He has no authority granted through the Constitution or the Legislature to require Oklahoma schools to show this video to their students. Districts should ignore this demand and rely on guidance from their local school boards about the kind of media and information they deem necessary and appropriate for their students and parents.

“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. Education should be about our students, not Walters using more public resources in an attempt to promote himself.” – Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City.