Oklahoma has instituted a new testing requirement that specifically targets teacher applicants from California and New York. As CBS News reports, Oklahoma's public schools superintendent, Ryan Walters, is implementing an assessment developed by PragerU to screen for what he describes as "radical leftist ideology."
The "America First" test consists of 50 questions, some of which probe applicants on topics like the chambers of Congress, U.S. senators, and the first three words of the Constitution. According to CNN, who received the test, the assessment also includes a question about chromosomes determining biological sex. Walters has stated, "We're not going to allow teachers in the classroom that don't know the difference between boys and girls," as cited by KOCO.
Developed with input from PragerU, a conservative media company known for its digital shorts pushing a conservative viewpoint, the test appears to carry a political undertone. While PragerU is not an accredited academic institution, Superintendent Walters has found in it an ally in crafting this new teacher screening tool. In a statement obtained by MSNBC, Ryan Walters justified the test as a vehicle to root out "woke indoctrinators."
The measure has faced immediate criticism, with many opponents describing it as a political loyalty test. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, described the test to USA Today as a likely "huge turnoff" for teacher applicants and rebuked Walters' approach. This controversial policy emerges at a time when Oklahoma's public education system ranks last among all states, according to WalletHub, and is experiencing a significant teacher shortage, as per report by MSNBC.
Walters' approach appears to focus less on addressing educational disparities and more on promoting a particular ideological agenda. One of the sample questions included asks, "Why is freedom of religion important to America’s identity?" This reflects Walters' emphasis on recognizing Christianity’s influence in U.S. history. At a time when Oklahoma’s public schools face significant challenges, the superintendent’s emphasis on political alignment rather than instructional qualifications may further complicate efforts to recruit educators from outside the state, MSNBC reported.
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