Oklahoma will soon require teachers applying from New York and California to pass a “loyalty test” aimed at ensuring they don’t have “radical leftist ideology.” The controversial test is drawing criticism from educators and political figures.
Oklahoma to Demand ‘Loyalty Test’ for Teachers from New York and California
Oklahoma is set to introduce a controversial new requirement for teachers from New York and California applying for teaching positions within the state. These teachers will have to pass a “MAGA loyalty test” to prove they do not hold “radical leftist ideology.”
Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s public schools superintendent, has announced that the test will be administered by PragerU, a conservative non-profit known for producing political content. Walters, who is a strong supporter of conservative educational reforms, argued that the test is necessary to protect Oklahoma classrooms from the ideologies prevalent in more liberal states.
“As long as I am superintendent, Oklahoma classrooms will be safeguarded from the radical leftist ideology fostered in places like California and New York,” Walters said in a statement.
Controversial Test Questions
The test is expected to cover basic questions about American government and history. According to reports from The Associated Press, some of the questions include:
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
A. House of Lords and Commons
B. Courts and Senate
C. Executive and Legislative
D. Senate and House of Representatives
How many U.S. Senators are there?
A. 435
B. 110
C. 50
D. 100
Why do some states have more Representatives than others?
A. They cover a larger geographic area.
B. They have held statehood for a longer period.
C. The number is determined by military presence.
D. Representation is determined by population size.
Other questions include asking applicants to list the first three words of the U.S. Constitution and to explain the importance of freedom of religion to America’s identity.
Opposition from Educators
The test has sparked criticism from educators and political figures across the country. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, called the test a “turnoff” for teachers and said it would only exacerbate the state’s existing teacher shortage.
John Waldron, chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, argued that if the test had been in place when he moved to Oklahoma to teach in 1999, he would have believed that the state wasn’t serious about attracting qualified teachers. “Teachers are not rushing here from other states to teach. We’ve got an enormous teacher shortage, and it’s not like we have a giant supply of teachers coming in from blue states anyway,” Waldron said.
The Teacher Shortage in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has been facing a significant teacher shortage, and many fear that the loyalty test will make it even harder for the state to attract qualified educators from other parts of the country. The state’s political leaders are hopeful the test will align the teaching workforce with conservative values, but critics argue that it could further drive away potential teachers.
