In a recent announcement, State Superintendent Ryan Walters has introduced new social studies standards for Oklahoma, which emphasize a pro-America and pro-Christianity narrative. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education's recent press release, the newly-revised standards highlight the full spectrum of American history—the commendable, the abhorrent, and sometimes, the downright distressing events that have shaped the nation.
The standards, pegged as a responsive measure to public demand, are geared towards fostering a pro-family and pro-American value system within public education. They notably integrate Supt. Walters Bible curriculum recommendations, name-checking the Bible and its historical impact more than 40 times. The Oklahoma State Department of Education underscores that this approach is about providing a balanced and comprehensive view of history, including a more robust context of Oklahoma’s Tribal history and the complexities of civil rights issues within the state.
"Oklahoma is putting the Bible and the historical impact of Christianity back in school. We are demanding that our children learn the full and true context of our nation’s founding and of the principles that made and continue to make America great and exceptional," Walters stated explicitly in the Oklahoma State Department of Education press release. He also praised the move as an embodiment of President Trump’s education agenda, aiming to purge "radical woke influences" from the curriculum.
The standards, which are now open for public comment until January 21, 2025, will be scrutinized based on the feedback received, which, in turn will be reviewed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Walters commends the standards saying, "These new standards fully and unabashedly answer the mandate that voters demanded upon electing President Trump: no more woke, radical indoctrination. No more racially divisive, hyper sexualized, watered down, weak curriculum that has left us with the worst public education outcomes in our history."
While the standards are laid out as educational objectives indicating what students ought to know at various stages of their education, they stop short of prescribing specific teaching practices, curriculum outlines, or assessment methods. The revised Oklahoma social studies standards await the opinions and critiques of the public before they are finalized, potentially shaping the civic knowledge of future generations in the state.
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