School Survey That Asked About Rape Fantasies Sparks Investigation

A school survey, featuring several sexually explicit questions, at an Oklahoma high school has sparked an investigation, according to Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters on Wednesday.

Newsweek has reached out to Waurika High School and the Oklahoma State Department of Education via email for comment

Why It Matters

The investigation comes as, over the past few years, a number of Republican-controlled states have implemented schoolbook bans in response to what they claimed was inappropriate material, which often related to race, gender identity or LGBTQ+ rights. In the 2022-23 academic year, PEN America recorded 3,362 instances of books being banned, up 33 percent on the previous year.

At the same time, several GOP dominated states have made moves to integrate Christianity more explicitly into the education system.

What To Know

In a Wednesday post on X, formerly Twitter, Walters responded to an incident Lane Brown, communications assistant at Oklahoma State Department of Education, detailed in which students in a psychology class at Waurika High School were given a survey featuring sexually explicit questions.

Walters said the matter is now being investigated, adding that the teacher and the district “will be held accountable.”

“This is not acceptable in any classroom, this is the first time we’ve seen this questionnaire, and we’re comprehensively investigating the matter. The teacher and district will be held accountable.” Walters wrote on X.

According to the screenshot of the questionnaire featured in Brown’s post, several sexually explicit questions were asked, including one about rape fantasies, as students were instructed to answer if these “activities represents normal sexual behavior” in a yes or no format.

While it is unclear why exactly this questionnaire was given, it was allegedly given to students during a psychology class seemingly in an effort to discuss “normal sexual behaviors.”

The identity of the teacher also remains unclear.

This incident comes as the inclusion of books or educational material containing sexual content or themes has become a contentious issue, leading to debates and legislative actions.

During his first term, Walters focused on combating “woke” ideology in public schools, mandating Bible instruction in classrooms and attempting to ban certain books from school libraries.

In addition, last year, Walters attempted to allocate $3 million in state funds to distribute Bibles in schools and mandated that all public schools incorporate the Bible into their curriculum. Those efforts faced immediate legal opposition, as a current lawsuit against Walters’ efforts continues.

In a lawsuit filed under Rev. Lori Walke v. Ryan Walters, plaintiffs argue that Walters’ plan to use taxpayer funds to purchase 55,000 Protestant Bibles and develop Bible-infused instructional materials violates the religious freedom protections enshrined in the Oklahoma Constitution.

Leading the charge against Walters’ plan are the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice. The groups argue that Walters’ actions constitute a blatant overreach of power and undermine the principle of church-state separation.

The lawsuit, filed in October 2024, includes 32 plaintiffs from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds—including Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, atheists, agnostics, and Indigenous community members. Many of them fear that introducing Bible-based teaching could foster discrimination, bullying, and exclusion, particularly against LGBTQ+ students and those with special educational needs.

Meanwhile, despite ongoing litigation, the Oklahoma State Department of Education recently issued new requests for proposals (RFPs) in January and February, effectively doubling down on Walters’ initiatives. Plaintiffs requested on Tuesday that the department of education pause these new RFPs until the state Supreme Court issues a ruling, but state officials declined.

What People Are Saying

The Oklahoma State Dept of Education wrote on X on Wednesday: “This matter has been flagged for review. Thank you.”

Lane Brown, communications assistant at Oklahoma State Department of Education, wrote on X on Wednesday: “A teacher at Wuarika High School in Oklahoma had students fill this out for a psychology class. This is what they teach our kids.”

What Happens Next

It is unclear what actions will come out of the investigation at Waurika High School, including if the teacher or district will face consequences.