Oklahoma’s Top Education Official Unveils Plan to Move Schools Further Right
Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, has recently announced a new plan to overhaul the state’s social studies curriculum, pushing public schools further to the right. This move comes on the heels of Walters’ previous mandate requiring middle and high schools to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into their curricula.
The new committee assembled by Walters to assist in this curriculum overhaul includes several prominent figures from right-wing think tanks and media personalities. Among them is Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation and creator of the controversial Project 2025, a conservative policy proposal document that has gained attention in recent days.
Also included in the committee is Dennis Prager, a conservative radio host and media personality known for his educational YouTube videos through “Prager University,” which critics have compared to authoritarian propaganda seen in countries like North Korea and China.
Walters has stated that the revisions to the social studies curriculum aim to eliminate what he perceives as DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) indoctrination and return teaching to what he calls the basics in Oklahoma. He emphasized the importance of focusing on history and American exceptionalism, with an emphasis on the country’s founding principles.
While the specific changes to the curriculum have not been detailed, Walters’ track record of implementing initiatives aligns with this new direction. PragerU videos were already being shown in Oklahoma classrooms following Walters’ approval last year.
The inclusion of Kevin Roberts and his Project 2025 in this committee has sparked controversy due to the extreme proposals included in the 900-page document. The plan advocates for measures such as mass deportations, reversing same-sex marriage, and tightening access to abortion medication.
In response to criticism, Roberts caused further outcry by likening the current political climate to a bloodless second American Revolution. While Trump has denied any direct involvement with Project 2025, his former aides have been linked to the initiative.
Walters also announced other conservative intellectuals serving on the advisory committee, including Stacy Washington, David Barton, Steve Deace, Mark Bauerlein, David Goodwin, Everett Piper, and Robert Pondiscio. These individuals come from various organizations and media outlets that champion conservative values in education.
As the plan to shift Oklahoma’s social studies curriculum further to the right progresses, it is likely to continue stirring debate and raising concerns among critics who view the move as a push towards ideological indoctrination in public schools.
