Oklahoma
Oklahoma public school students could soon earn credit through ‘Satanic Temple Academy’
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) – The Satanic Temple is once again announcing plans for the Sooner State after a bill was sent to the governor’s desk which could allow students to receive class credits for religious and moral instruction off school campuses.
House Bill 1425 would force school districts to adopt a policy which allows students to go off-campus to attend a religious or moral instruction course taught by an independent entity. The student would be allowed to miss up to three class periods per week to attend such a course.
Instructors of these courses would not need to be licensed or certified teachers.
The bill’s language also states students would not be able to miss classes at their school in which the subject matter is open to assessment requirements. The student’s parents or guardians would have to provide written consent in order for the student to take the outside course.
School district funds, other than administrative costs, would not be involved in the outside instruction, according to the bill.
In response to the bill being one step away from becoming the state’s newest law, The Satanic Temple is highlighting their own learning academy that Oklahoma students could use to possibly earn school credit.
In a post on social media, the religious group stated their Hellion Academy of Independent Learning (HAIL) could soon be available for Oklahoma students.
“The Satanic Temple believes that public schools should be free from religious influence,” the post said. “We are, however, prepared to ensure our members’ children receive the same opportunities as those participating in other religion’s programs. By not vetoing HB 1425, Governor Stitt will allow the state to grant elective credit for religious and morality classes taught by The Satanic Temple, making it possible for parents to invite TST’s HAIL program to their local public schools as soon as this fall.”
The post ended with the group asking if Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt will be the first to award school credit for courses taught by The Satanic Temple.
In order for the course to be considered for credit, the course would have to evaluated based on the following secular criteria:
- The amount of classroom instruction time;
- The course syllabus, which reflects the course requirements and any materials used in the course;
- Methods of assessment used in the course; and
- The qualifications of the course instructor.
While The Satanic Temple does not believe in the actual existence of Satan or even the supernatural, they do consider themselves a religion that is divorced from superstition. The group is even already a federally recognized religious organization.
Their seven fundamental tenets are the following:
| Tenet Number | Tenet Language |
|---|---|
| 1 | One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason. |
| 2 | The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions. |
| 3 | One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone. |
| 4 | The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one’s own. |
| 5 | Beliefs should conform to one’s best scientific understanding of the world. One should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit one’s beliefs. |
| 6 | People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one’s best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused. |
| 7 | Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word. |
This bill is aimed at public schools, and there is a provision within the it stating charter schools would not be affected by the measure.
Found out how your Southwest-based elected officials voted on this bill below:
| Elected Official | Vote |
|---|---|
| Rep. Boles (R-Marlow) | Against |
| Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton) | Against |
| Rep. Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) | For |
| Rep. Kendrix (R-Altus) | For |
| Rep. McEntire (R-Duncan) | Against |
| Rep. Pae (R-Lawton) | Against |
| Rep. Worthen (R-Lawton) | Against |
| Sen. Deevers (R-Elgin) | For |
| Sen. Garvin (R-Duncan) | For |
| Sen. Howard (R-Altus) | For |
| Sen. Jech (R-Kingfisher) | For |
| Sen. Kidd (R-Waurika) | For |
Copyright 2024 KSWO. All rights reserved.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma's Own In Focus: Edmond Man Faces Sentencing For Bringing Ammunition Into Turks And Caicos
An Edmond man facing charges in Turks and Caicos after ammunition was found in his luggage will arrive for his sentencing on Friday.
Click here to watch News 9 Now.
Ryan Watson was arrested in April after authorities found ammunition left over from a hunting trip in his carry-on. Now, two months after being taken into custody, Watson will face his sentencing.
The punishment for bringing ammunition onto the island nation, according to Turks and Caicos law, is 12 years in prison.
Watson’s family spoke with News 9 about the trial, and applauded the efforts of the attorney defending Watson.
The family said when the prosecutor brought in the bullets to the courtroom to use in the case against Watson, it provided Watson’s attorney the opportunity to show no weapon on the island is capable of firing them.
Last week, Turks and Caicos Gov. Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam filed an amendment to country’s firearms ordinance, stating “the court may impose a term of imprisonment of less than the mandatory minimum term or a fine or both.”
Watson is scheduled to be sentenced at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Watson is not the only American tourist to face ammunition charges in Turks and Caicos, as four others have been arrested after bullets were found by airport security.
US Senators Markwayne Mullin and Rep. Josh Breechen, both of whom are lawmakers representing Oklahoma in Washington D.C., have visited the island in May to discuss the arrests.
While that delegation was unable to negotiate the release of the detained Americans, two have returned home after being given fines and shortened sentences.
Turks and Caicos Gov. Daniel-Selvaratnam defended the country’s laws, and said no American has received the full sentence.
This case led to changes at Will Rogers World Airport, from Which Watson and his family departed from on their trip toTurks and Caicos, and brought action from U.S. lawmakers.
U.S. Sen James Lankford sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration, asking how it managed to allow citizens to go to Turks and Caicos with ammo in their bags.
The TSA said officers will receive additional training on how to catch those items, with failure to do leaving the possibility of them being placed on administrative leave, or being terminated from their position.
On Sunday afternoon, former Oklahoma guard Kaden Cooper announced his commitment to Louisiana Tech.
Cooper was a member of the Sooners’ 2023 recruiting class, spending one year in Norman before announcing his entry into the transfer portal. As a true freshman, the Ada, OK, product played in just 15 games, logging 4.5 minutes per contest.
In his limited time on the floor, Cooper averaged 1.5 points and 0.9 rebounds per game while shooting 46.7% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. The former 4-star prospect made seven of his 15 field goal attempts and three of his six attempts from beyond the arc.
Cooper tallied 22 points and 13 rebounds in his 67 minutes of action as a true freshman. Many OU basketball observers often wondered why Cooper didn’t recieve more playing time, especially later in the season when Porter Moser and company were dealing with multiple injuries in the backcourt and on the wing.
Coming out of The Skill Factory, a development program in Atlanta, GA, Cooper was a 4-star recruit, rated the No. 58 overall prospect and No. 11 small forward in the 2023 recruiting class. Despite being a coveted recruit, the athletic wing still was unable to crack the Sooners’ rotation in 2023-24.
Now heading to Louisiana Tech, Cooper should be able to find a role as a solid contributor. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, the former OU wing has good size and should give the Bulldogs a chance to make the NCAA Tournament in 2025 after a 22-10 season in 2023-24.
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