Oklahoma Will Require Schools to Teach Disproven Conspiracy Theory That Democrats Stole 2020 Election from Trump

Oklahoma School Curriculum to Include Discredited Trump Conspiracy Theory

The Oklahoma public school curriculum is set to include controversial changes that involve teaching discredited information related to the 2020 presidential election. Among the updates to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies is a directive for high school students to learn about conspiracy theories alleging that the 2020 election was “stolen” from former President Donald Trump by the Democratic Party. This theory is one that has been widely promoted by Trump himself.

The guidelines specifically mention that students should be able to identify discrepancies in the 2020 election results by examining graphs and other information. These include claims such as the sudden halting of ballot-counting in certain cities, security risks associated with mail-in voting, and other factors that have been debunked by election officials and cybersecurity experts. Despite multiple investigations that found no evidence of widespread fraud, Trump continues to push this narrative.

Ryan Walters, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Oklahoma and a vocal Trump supporter, spearheaded the changes to the curriculum. He enlisted the help of other like-minded individuals, such as Kevin Roberts from the Heritage Foundation and Dennis Prager from PragerU, in revising the educational standards. These organisations have been criticised for spreading false or misleading information on various subjects.

Walters’ conservative bias is evident throughout the curriculum changes. Notably, the section on Trump’s administration praises his avoidance of new wars, while other parts of the curriculum highlight conservative perspectives on events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Tea Party movement. The new standards also include controversial claims about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, attributing it to a Chinese lab leak despite scientific consensus pointing to a natural origin.

These revisions are part of Walters’ broader efforts to introduce conservative values and Christianity into Oklahoma’s public schools. In addition to the inclusion of the Bible and the Ten Commandments in classrooms, Walters has insisted on having a Bible placed in every classroom, despite facing opposition from the state governor over funding for the religious texts.

Critics of the changes argue that the inclusion of discredited conspiracy theories in the curriculum is a disservice to students, as it promotes misinformation and undermines trust in the democratic process. There are concerns that the education system is being used to push a particular political agenda rather than fostering critical thinking skills and a fact-based understanding of history.

As the debate over the revised curriculum continues, it raises questions about the role of education in shaping students’ worldview and the responsibilities of school administrators in providing a balanced and evidence-based curriculum. The controversy in Oklahoma serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in navigating politically sensitive issues within the education system and the importance of upholding academic integrity and objectivity in teaching practices.