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GREENWOOD DIST. – In the latest showdown in America’s culture war on public education, Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, is tapping Kevin Roberts of The Heritage Foundation and Dennis Prager, the founder of PragerU, to overhaul the state’s K-12 social studies curriculum. The Heritage Foundation is the publisher of Project 2025, an initiative that critics argue will promote an authoritarian, Christian nationalist agenda that undermines the separation of powers and civil liberties should Donald Trump win the 2024 presidential election in November.
The Heritage Foundation and Prager U have been criticized for promoting a conservative and often revisionist view of American history. This could lead to a curriculum that downplays or misrepresents the historical and contemporary issues affecting people of color, including institutional slavery, segregation, civil rights, and systemic racism.
Fear of Historical Erasure: Black Oklahomans Concerned About Curriculum Changes
The fear for Black Oklahomans is that certain aspects of American history, particularly those that reflect poorly on the treatment of Black people and other communities of color, including the Jewish community, might be minimized or omitted so White students feel more comfortable and not ‘targeted’. This erasure of history can prevent students from understanding the full context of past and current social and racial issues.
Walters has expressed concern about students and teachers, particularly those who are White, feeling uncomfortable during classroom discussions about race.
Last year, Walters said, “Let’s not tie [the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre] to the skin color and say that the skin color determined it.” He later walked his statement back.
Hence, tapping Prager and Roberts to assist in revamping the state’s Social Studies curriculum is on brand with Project 2025 under Section 3, page 343, which definitively dismisses the idea that “America is systemically racist.” However, Walters’, Prager’s, and Roberts’ beliefs are in direct contrast to the majority of Black Americans and other communities of color who have experienced America’s systemic racism firsthand.
For example, systemic racism in public education manifests in several ways. Studies show that schools in predominantly minority neighborhoods often receive less funding than those in predominantly White neighborhoods, leading to disparities in educational resources and outcomes.
Notably, Langston University, the state’s only HBCU and a land-grant university like Oklahoma State University, has been severely underfunded for decades, underfunded at 45¢ for every $3.14 in comparison to Oklahoma State University (OSU), also a land-grant institution. For more context, OSU was founded on December 25, 1890, and the school explicitly excluded Black students from enrolling until 1949.
Moreover, numerous studies show higher rates of suspensions and expulsions for Black and Latino students compared to their White peers. Additionally, the contributions of minorities in history and literature curricula are often underrepresented, and there is a lack of culturally responsive teaching.
Challenging Misconceptions: The True Purpose of DEI Programs in Schools
Systemic racism has led to the development of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives designed to make educators aware of these disparities and help them become better advocates for their students.
Hence, DEI initiatives aim to address racial biases that can occur regardless of a teacher’s race. These programs were not created to promote hatred of the country or any particular group, contrary to the claims made by Project 2025 and Superintendent Walters.
Meanwhile, Walters continues advocating for policies and initiatives aimed at limiting the teaching of concepts related to critical race theory (CRT) and other discussions of race that he believes may make students or teachers uncomfortable or feel guilty about historical wrongs and systemic racism.
Notably, the movement toward these kinds of policies is part of a broader national trend among some education officials and legislators to restrict the teaching of certain aspects of American history and race relations in schools.
The Black Wall Street Times’ Analysis on Walters’ Choice to Recruit Project 2025 and Prager U Experts
A curriculum overhaul led by organizations with a specific ideological stance might not adequately represent the diverse perspectives and contributions of Black Americans and other communities of color. This can result in a less inclusive education that fails to recognize the importance of multiculturalism and diversity in American society.
Moreover, there are concerns that the involvement of these figures might result in a curriculum that lacks cultural sensitivity and fails to address the unique challenges faced by students of color. This can alienate these students and contribute to a less supportive and understanding educational environment.
The involvement of politically charged figures and organizations, like The Heritage Foundation and PragerU can suggest that the curriculum changes are being driven by a political and religious agenda rather than educational best practices. This can undermine trust in the education system and lead to the perception that education is being used as a tool for political indoctrination.
OEA Condemns Walters’ Actions: Prioritizing Politics Over Student Learning
In 2019, Ryan Walters was vocal about his support for local control while serving on the Social Study Standards Executive Committee. After the new standards were established, he stated:
“I wanted to express my satisfaction with the new social studies. Standards developed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education… I have been very pleased with both the process of developing the new standards and the final product.”
Those processes and standards have not changed since 2019–what has changed are Walters’ motivations.
Of the provided names on Walters’ handpicked executive committee, 90% are political podcasters and 80% have no roots in Oklahoma, along with many others who have no background in K-12 public education.
Through these actions, Walters continues to sacrifice student learning and Oklahoma public schools as political pawns to further his personal agenda and national profile among political opportunists.
Any proposed changes in the standards are subject to legislative approval, and any changes that are contrary to current statutes can be legally challenged.
Changing standards is not a simple action. It will have a direct impact on the textbooks that will be adopted, the assessments that will be created, and the curriculum teachers will use to teach these standards.
Oklahoma Education Association
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The OEA also addressed Walters’ demands to have Bibles placed and taught in every classroom across Oklahoma.
Forcing a particular religion or ideology on students will not increase student outcomes, but will threaten their religious freedom and opportunity for a full education.
Education professionals, want to teach a true history that reflects the radical, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of United States of America and parents want to be the ones who guide their children’s faith.
Oklahoma’s educators continue to provide the high-quality instruction our students need and deserve while the Oklahoma Education Association remains diligent in our mission to work for the rights of students and their parents.
Oklahoma Education Association