A Bible in every classroom?

+ can Biden have his 'Checkers' moment? US Edition - Today's top story: Oklahoma's superintendent orders public schools to teach the Bible – relying on controversial views about religious freedom [View in browser]( US Edition | 8 July 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Will Britain’s new prime minister strengthen the country’s ‘special relationship’ with the US?]( - [Getting mental health treatment amid a nationwide shortage of therapists]( - [The link between wildfire smoke exposure and premature death]( Lead story The dog days of summer have arrived. The Fourth of July has come and gone, the humidity is climbing, and K-12 students are getting into the rhythm of vacation. But for many teachers and administrators, preparation for the coming school year has begun – and now, Oklahoma educators have one more thing to plan for. Late last month, the state’s superintendent, Ryan Walters, sent a memo requiring that public schools incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into lessons, without giving specifics. “Every teacher, every classroom in the state will have a Bible,” he said. The announcement may seem like a bolt from the blue, [but it fits with a wider pattern](, explains Mark Satta, a First Amendment expert at Wayne State University. Supreme Court decisions in recent years seem to have emboldened activists pushing for fewer boundaries between religion and public education. And the claim that the Bible is key to understanding U.S. history and government – as Oklahoma’s superintendent has suggested – fits with a broader set of beliefs about Christianity’s place in American identity, ideas that form a pillar of Christian nationalism. [ [Understand what’s going on in Washington and around the world. Get our Politics Weekly newsletter.]( ] Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor Instruction about the Bible can be legal – the question is how it’s done, and what the intent is. Pascal Deloche/Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images [Oklahoma’s superintendent orders public schools to teach the Bible – relying on controversial views about religious freedom]( Mark Satta, Wayne State University State superintendent Ryan Walters has mandated that public school teachers incorporate the Bible into classroom lessons. Politics + Society - [Britain’s new prime minister has a chance to reset ties with the White House – but a range of thorny issues and the US election make it more tricky]( Garret Martin, American University School of International Service Keir Starmer is ideologically more aligned with the Democrats. But history shows that isn’t the only key to good US-UK political relations. - [One memorable speech can turn around a faltering campaign − how Nixon did it with his ‘Checkers’ talk]( W. Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication Facing an uproar over use of a private fund to cover expenses, vice presidential candidate Sen. Richard Nixon invoked the family dog, Checkers, to salvage his political career in 1952. - [2024 is not 1968 − and the Democratic convention in Chicago will play out very differently than in the days of Walter Cronkite]( Heather Hendershot, Northwestern University The 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago was a nightmare of protest, violent policing and chaos. How will Chicago handle the political and media event that is this year’s Democratic convention? - [Nevada is a battleground state – and may be a bellwether of more extreme partisanship]( Thom Reilly, Arizona State University From one perspective, Nevada’s political history is balanced. From another, it’s s pendulum swinging back and forth as people split their votes across party lines. Health + Medicine - [Navigating mental health treatment options can be overwhelming – a clinical psychologist explains why it’s worth the effort]( Bryan Cochran, University of Montana Knowing which kind of provider to see and how to access help can be half the battle. Environment + Energy - [Wildfire smoke linked to thousands of premature deaths every year in California alone]( Rachel Connolly, University of California, Los Angeles; Michael Jerrett, University of California, Los Angeles Breathing wildfire smoke can cut years off people’s lives. As fires become more frequent in a warming world, smoke is leading to a public health crisis. - [Where does beach sand come from?]( David R. Montgomery, University of Washington Sand may seem abundant when your toes are buried in it, but it’s becoming scarce along many coastlines around the world. Ethics + Religion - [Why the Olympic Games are a ‘civil religious’ ceremony with a global congregation]( Terry Shoemaker, Arizona State University Sporting events form a vital space where Americans display their ‘civil religious devotion,’ according to a scholar of religion and sports. International - [French say ‘non’ to Le Pen’s National Rally – but a messy coalition government looks likely]( Romain Fathi, Australian National University The latest surprise results have seen a left-wing coalition take the lead, but no party will be able to form a parliamentary majority. Trending on site - [Why US schools need to shake up the way they teach physics]( - [From diagnosing brain disorders to cognitive enhancement, 100 years of EEG have transformed neuroscience]( - [Knowing when to call it quits takes courage and confidence - 3 case studies]( Today's graphic 📈 [Nationally, 20% of voters are so independent that they do not vote consistently for one party or the other. The states with the largest percentages of independent voters are Rhode Island, Alaska and Wyoming.]( From the story, [Politics is still both local and personal – but only for independents, not for Democrats or Republicans]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [Giving Today]( [New!] • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Threads]( • [Nostr]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to [help you make sense of our complex world](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](