Ryan Walters, the Republican superintendent of schools in Oklahoma, instructed schools across the state to observe a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk on Tuesday.
In a letter to school leaders, Mr. Walters praised Mr. Kirk for promoting “American exceptionalism, Christianity’s role in society and our country’s history, as well as conservative values.”
Mr. Walters, a conservative who has sought to align with President Trump’s policies, has often waded into contentious national issues in his role. How and whether to honor Mr. Kirk has quickly become one of them.
President Trump last week ordered flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Mr. Kirk. The decision prompted questions about why he did not do the same for Melissa Hortman, the Democratic Minnesota state representative who was gunned down along with her husband this summer in what officials described as a political assassination.
The reaction to Mr. Kirk’s death has been as divided as the country, an issue that is also playing out at schools and colleges, where Mr. Kirk mobilized young conservatives and invited people to debate him about current events. Those opposing public efforts to honor him have pointed to his statements on race, Jews and gender identity, arguing that he promoted intolerance and hatred.
Many government buildings lowered flags, and so did some private entities. At N.F.L. games on Sunday, the league allowed teams to decide whether to offer a moment of silence for Mr. Kirk. Some opted not to.
Officials in Texas and Florida have said they were investigating teachers who have made “inappropriate comments” about Mr. Kirk’s death on social media. They have not specified which statements were considered a violation, but Anastasios Kamoutsas, the education commissioner in Florida, has condemned teachers who were “celebrating violence.”
But in left-leaning Massachusetts, some questioned why Williams College, a private, liberal arts college, abided by the president’s order to lower flags to half-staff for Mr. Kirk. The city government of West Hollywood, Calif., is also facing a backlash for doing so.
Mr. Walters explained his decision in Oklahoma by noting Mr. Kirk’s defense of free speech and “meaningful debate.” He added: “This observance is an opportunity for our school communities to pause and reflect on his impact, as well as the vile act that took his life.”
The moment of silence was scheduled to take place at noon local time.
Several school districts, including Tulsa Public Schools, the state’s largest district, said they would opt out of the moment of silence for Mr. Kirk on Tuesday, citing a state law that already requires districts to offer one minute of silent each day “to reflect, meditate, pray” or engage in other silent activities.
Some districts also cited staffing and logistical challenges.
“Adding another minute of silence at 12:00 as the state has requested would be unnecessarily disruptive to our schools who will have students at lunch and at recess during that time,” Union Public Schools, which serves about 14,000 students in Tulsa and Broken Arrow, said in a letter to parents and staff reported by The Tulsa World. “We will ensure that our regularly scheduled minute of silence is observed as it is every day.”
Sarah Mervosh covers education for The Times, focusing on K-12 schools.
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