As the May 1 deadline looms for the Oklahoma Legislature to reject or accept new social studies standards, Senate Democrats are ramping up their efforts to reject what they deem as politicized educational material. Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt expressed grave concerns, stating, "The social studies standards Superintendent Walters has pushed through place politics over our children. The Legislature must act in the next few days to ensure we are putting our students, teachers, schools and families first," as obtained by the Oklahoma State Senate press releases.
Resistance to the standards presents a united front from the Democratic side, with Senator Carri Hicks highlighting a disconnect between the legislature's actions and the State Board of Education. "Republican leadership has said they will not hear our joint resolution rejecting these standards, even as Governor Stitt’s newest appointments to the State Board of Education have asked that we send the standards back to them for another vote," Hicks said according to the Senate's press release. The Democrats' pushback comes amidst broader criticism regarding the hastily altered standards and their potential impact on the quality of education.
The contentious nature of these educational standards is highlighted further by Sen. Regina Goodwin's assertion that Superintendent Walters has neglected traditional processes in favor of a less collaborative approach. Goodwin told the Senate, "Superintendent Walters abandoned the process Oklahoma has utilized for decades that enlists educators and community leaders to accurately update what all children need to learn about history and social studies." She highlights how such a shift could lead to an indoctrination of students rather than fostering critical, well-rounded education.
Amid rising pressure from educators and parents, Senator Mark Mann emphasized the urgency of responding to public sentiment. Mann, citing poor polling support for Superintendent Walters, stated, "It’s time legislative leaders quit worrying about that 17 percent and focus on our students, educators and families." This quote, derived from the Senate press release, suggest there is significant resistance to the proposed standards among constituents, putting pressure on legislators to reconsider their approach before the deadline.
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