Breaking News Stories

EXCLUSIVE: Oklahoma University Accused Of Defying Law By Requiring DEI Course

Oklahoma’s largest university may be defying the state’s governor by requiring prospective teachers to take racist classes, according to documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

December 2023, Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed An executive order declaring that institutions of higher education “may not order any person to participate in, listen to, or receive instruction within the scope of its education, training, activities, procedures, or programming…” Giving priority to a person based on their specific race, skin color, gender, ethnicity, or national origin over others. ”University of Oklahoma need Undergraduate education students are required to take a course that portrays white people as complicit in systemic racism and instructs minority students to receive special treatment, according to class summaries obtained by DCNF. It has become.

“Our universities need to prepare students for the workforce, not indoctrinate them with liberal ideology,” a spokesperson for the governor’s office told DCNF. “It’s outrageous that this is a required subject. It’s time to look at the accrediting bodies that promote these courses and bring common sense back into the classroom.”

The course, with the innocuous title “Schools and American Culture,” allocates approximately one-third of the student’s grade to developing a “social justice curriculum” that “centers needs and supports marginalized and underrepresented populations.” Ethnic history and reality,” the syllabus states. (Stream The Daily Caller’s documentary “Anarchy U” here)

During the fourth week of classes, students are required to learn about “critical whiteness in education” as well as critical race theory. Critical whiteness is a field of research that aims to “reveal the invisible structures that produce and reproduce white supremacy and privilege,” and is a field of research that aims to “uncover the invisible structures that produce and reproduce white supremacy and privilege.” The purpose is to investigate the meaning and how white privilege relates to the complicity of racism. ” According to To the Oxford Research Encyclopedia.

The Critical Race Theory Handbook in Education, which students are required to read in class that week, states that “white people seek racial justice only when it is against them.” It is being

In addition to Stitt’s orders, oklahoma state law It also prohibits universities from imposing “directions or requirements that exhibit racial or gender stereotypes.”

During the fifth week of class, students will learn how to apply critical race theory in the classroom. To help with this, they are assigned to read a 2017 academic paper titled “.Critical race theory and the whiteness of teacher education.” opposes “colorblindness,” stating that “neutral” structures like teacher tests “reinforce whiteness and white interests.”

Oklahoma public school teachers are required by state law to teach that “people of one race or gender cannot and should not treat others without respect for their race or gender.” Forbidden. In other words, teachers cannot tell students that racist policies are bad if they want to comply with the law.

The course syllabus states that teachers-in-training must follow “state-mandated content standards,” but encourages them to work toward “centering” the needs of minority students over white students. are.

Students walk around campus between classes at the University of Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Dearing/Getty Images)

One of the textbooks assigned to the class, “Education When the World Is Burning,” also contains content that may violate Oklahoma law regarding required coursework, according to a copy obtained by DCNF. That’s what it means.

The book is a collection of essays on how to incorporate themes of race and sexuality into education, including an excerpt entitled “The Survival of Indigenous Children in Public Schools.” of specific section Some of the texts used in the compilation criticized Little House on the Prairie for portraying white people in a positive light and presented Native American perspectives to prospective teachers rather than in a neutral manner. We encourage you to consider how to teach history in your preferred way.

Another article in the textbook is “Teach politics in the Trump era” does not appear to ignore state law, but does instruct prospective teachers to teach their students to criticize the president-elect’s rhetoric.

“The University of Oklahoma is committed to ensuring that our courses meet and comply with applicable law,” a university spokesperson told DCNF. “OU never shys away from complex or difficult topics. We are committed to presenting material that is perspective-neutral and non-discriminatory, and we ask our students how to think, not what to think. We remain committed to teaching people how to think. The rich history of the United States is complex and unique, and it is fitting that our coursework reflects that.”

“This course in educational research is designed for professional educators and teacher candidates and provides a comprehensive overview of the complex history of American education, including major court cases and educational theories.” continued the spokesperson. “It is specifically built to prepare educators for public school classrooms in both rural and urban settings with students who reflect Oklahoma’s citizenship. An extensive analysis of primary sources, facts, perspectives and experiences, and a background that prepares you to address difficult ideas with all the tools and resources you need to function effectively in the classroom. It includes:

The University of Oklahoma expressed displeasure with Stitt’s order when it was first issued. send “It evokes deep concern and uncertainty about the future,” the email to staff and faculty said.

“Rest assured that the key to our continued success as the state’s flagship university is, and always will be, our core values, which have served as our school’s unchanging North Star. A place for all participants and a commitment to free speech and research, and to treating each other with civility,” the email said. “These values ​​transcend political ideology, and we are steadfast in our values.”

Stitt defended the executive order at the time: states “Oklahomans deserve a merit-based system that ensures equal opportunity for all.”

All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan news distribution service, is available free of charge to legitimate news publishers with large audiences. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and DCNF affiliation. If you have any questions about our guidelines or our partnership, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Share this post: