Non-profit creates opt out forms against State Superintendent Ryan Walters

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The controversy continues over State Superintendent Ryan Walters and his directives involving religion in the classroom.

A non-profit called Defense of Democracy has created opt-out forms for parents who want their child to have no interaction with Ryan Walters in any capacity, which includes the recent prayer video.

"I pray for our leaders to make the right decisions, I pray in particular for President Donald Trump," said Walters.

Last week, Walters directed a prayer video to be played in all Oklahoma classrooms, a move still sparking backlash.

"Many, many parents and many of the administrators within the public school system in Oklahoma don't agree with this," said Karen Svoboda, Executive Director for Defense of Democracy.

Those parents can now say no to Walters by using the opt-out forms.

One form specifically targets Walters' prayer video, while another addresses his push to incorporate the Bible into classroom instruction.

"We have seen a flood of interest from the state of Oklahoma, specifically from parents who are panicked, who are devastated that Ryan Walters is requiring this and so relieved that there is at least an option that they can use to protect their kids," said Svoboda.

While most Oklahoma school districts tell News 4 they will not be sharing the video of Walters praying, Defense of Democracy believes the forms will help even more with schools wanting to push back.

"Schools can actually say, 'Well, it's not just this superintendent or this board of directors that's saying we're not going to show this video. It's this 240 parents that we got this email about that don't want their kids to show it,'" said Erica Watkins, State Director for Defense of Democracy.

Watkins helped create the opt-out forms, she has two children in Oklahoma schools and says she is worried about their future.

"We're not focusing on education. We're focusing on culture, war and ideological fights that it's harming our kids," said Watkins.

While Ryan Walters did not respond to News 4's request for an interview, he talked to News Nation on why he is requiring Bibles and the video in classrooms.

"We wanted to make sure it was crystal clear to parents, teachers and kids, we will not allow any more state-sponsored atheism going on in our schools, which is the targeting of any expressions of religious beliefs, which is absurd," said Walters.

News 4 asked the Oklahoma State Department of Education specifically if Walters wanted to comment on the forms, but we did not receive a response.

The forms can be viewed here.