Oklahoma Education Chief Defends 2020 Election Curriculum Amidst Criticism
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters is facing a storm of criticism for a recently approved high school history curriculum that delves into alleged irregularities and discrepancies surrounding the 2020 presidential election. The curriculum, which instructs students to analyze graphs, data, and events surrounding the election, has drawn fire from media outlets, Democratic lawmakers, and even Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Kevin Stitt’s office.
Walters, a Republican, is staunchly defending the curriculum, arguing that it encourages critical thinking and allows students to examine historical records independently. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Walters painted a picture of a dramatic turnaround in Oklahoma’s education system, spurred by parental demand and, according to him, made possible by President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the federal Department of Education.
According to Walters, Oklahoma parents and grandparents are clamoring for a return to the basics of education and a rejection of what he characterizes as left-wing or legacy media-driven narratives within school curricula. "We want these parameters around our standards so that we know our kids are going to be taught facts, not have a left-wing agenda pushed on them," he stated. "I think that that’s going to continue to be what parents and grandparents here demand. So, I think that we need to be listening to them."
The most contentious aspect of the state’s educational reforms is the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies document. This document directs high school teachers to guide students in "identifying discrepancies in 2020 elections results" by examining various data points. These include the abrupt cessation of ballot counting in specific cities within key battleground states, the potential security vulnerabilities associated with mail-in balloting, the occurrence of "sudden batch dumps" of votes, the record-breaking voter turnout, and the alleged "unprecedented contradiction of ‘bellwether county’ trends."
The curriculum’s inclusion of this topic has been met with widespread condemnation. State Representative John Waldron, the vice-chair of the Oklahoma House Democratic caucus, strongly criticized Walters, accusing him of replacing one form of indoctrination with another. "The superintendent campaigned to end indoctrination in our schools, but what he is doing instead with these new standards is promoting his own brand of indoctrination," Waldron asserted.
Adding to the pressure, a representative for Governor Stitt expressed concerns that the curriculum is a distraction from more pressing issues. "This is just another distraction from making sure kids can read," the representative told Fox News Digital. This statement highlights a broader concern about declining literacy rates and the need to focus on fundamental skills.
Despite the pushback, Walters remains steadfast in his defense of the curriculum. He insists that it does not promote a particular viewpoint but rather fosters critical thinking skills among students. "The left doesn’t want kids to look at the numbers, look at the data and ask questions about the election," Walters argued. "Look, we’ve never had an election like 2020. I mean, literally all of the processes were changed leading up to it. Our kids need to do a deep dive in that."
Walters believes that analyzing the 2020 election through data and historical records is a crucial step in preparing students for the future. "We’re going to make sure when our kids study history, they’re looking at numbers, are looking at data, they’re looking at what the historical records show us," he said. "Let students do that deep dive. I think it makes them better students. I think it makes them more well-rounded people."
He emphasized the importance of teaching students to think independently and question information from all sources. "Hey, don’t take anybody’s word for it. Do your own research. Do your own study. I think that’s a really important message that we’ve got to get across to our kids."
While the curriculum has already been approved by the state Board of Education, it still requires approval from the legislature or the governor to be fully implemented. Walters expressed optimism that the legislature will support the curriculum but criticized Governor Stitt, labeling him a "never Trumper."
"It’s really unfortunate," Walters said. "If the governor wants to come out and force students and tell them that Joe Biden won the 2020 election and that he doesn’t want them to look at facts or think about it, that’s way out of step with Oklahomans."
Abegail Cave, a representative for Governor Stitt, refuted the "never Trumper" accusation and redirected the focus to the state’s declining test scores. She accused Walters and some members of the education board of prioritizing headlines and political wins over improving educational outcomes for Oklahoma children. "That’s again Ryan Walters trying to spin the narrative and muddy the waters for no reason," Cave said.
Cave also highlighted Stitt’s past praise for President Trump’s actions against the federal Department of Education, emphasizing that "the governor is a firm believer that we should leave education to the states." This point underscores the ongoing debate about the appropriate role of the federal government in education and the balance between national standards and local control.
The controversy surrounding the Oklahoma history curriculum reflects a deeper national divide over the interpretation of the 2020 election and the role of education in shaping students’ understanding of history and civic engagement. The debate raises fundamental questions about academic freedom, critical thinking, and the influence of political ideologies on curriculum development. As the curriculum awaits legislative or gubernatorial approval, the controversy is likely to continue, further fueling the debate about the future of education in Oklahoma and across the nation.
