Oklahoma teachers could be sued for $10K for teaching anything that contradicts students' religious beliefs

A Republican lawmaker in Oklahoma has proposed a controversial piece of legislation that would give parents the right to file lawsuits against teachers who teach lessons that contradict the religious vies of a student.

According to WBNS, Senate Bill (SB) 1470, written by "Students' Religious Belief Protection Act," is a proposal presented by Sen. Rob Standridge (R-Okla.).

The bill focuses on "prohibiting public school from employing or contracting with certain persons; authorizing parent to bring certain action; providing sequence of remedies for certain action; providing exception to application of The Governmental Tort Claims Act; providing for non-codification; providing for codification; and declaring an emergency."

Standridge's proposal reads, "No public school of this state, as defined pursuant to Section 1-106 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall employ or contract with a person that promotes positions in the classroom or at any function of the public school that is in opposition to closely held religious beliefs of students."

If a teacher is sued, they will have no options to receive help to pay the penalty. However, the proposed law offers no clarity on which religious beliefs would be included. The bill comes as Republican lawmakers and conservative-leaning organizations across the country work to control what is being taught in classrooms. National debates have erupted about whether or not critical race theory (CRT), sexuality, and politics should be discussed in school.

On February 7, lawmakers will hear the proposal at the beginning of the Oklahoma Legislative Session.