By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Oklahoma now requires teachers from California and New York to pass a 34-question “America First” certification test developed with PragerU. State Superintendent Ryan Walters asserts the exam protects Oklahoma classrooms from “radical leftist ideology” by ensuring teachers reflect “American values.” The test includes questions on civics, history, gender, and identity, and critics view it as a political loyalty test, potentially worsening the teacher shortage. The initiative, which has already garnered interest from other states, has been met with warnings from opponents who fear the impact on recruitment.
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PragerU reveals full list of questions from Oklahoma’s new ‘America First’ teacher test. Oklahoma will now require teachers from California and New York to pass a newly unveiled 34-question “America First” certification test developed with PragerU.
So, here’s the deal: Oklahoma, a state consistently ranked at the bottom when it comes to education, is now implementing a new certification test for teachers, specifically those coming from California and New York. And, the test? Well, it’s been crafted in collaboration with PragerU, a media outlet known for its conservative, and often criticized, viewpoints. The stated aim is to ensure these teachers align with Oklahoma’s vision of “America First” principles. The whole situation, from the outside looking in, just feels a bit…off. It’s hard not to see this as a political move, designed to filter out educators who don’t fit a certain ideological mold, especially given Oklahoma’s already dire teacher shortage and educational rankings.
The immediate reaction to this announcement is a collective head-scratching. First off, the spelling error on the certificate itself is a bit of a red flag and raises questions about the competency of those overseeing the process. Furthermore, let’s be honest, are droves of teachers from California and New York, where salaries and standards of living are generally higher, really clamoring to move to Oklahoma? The incentives just don’t seem to be there. Oklahoma’s education system is struggling, and this move doesn’t appear designed to solve the problem. Instead, it seems like a way to scare teachers, already in short supply, away.
The core concern here is that this test, developed by PragerU, is likely to be heavily influenced by their conservative ideology. The phrase “America First” itself has become a loaded term. We can expect questions to promote specific historical narratives and viewpoints that may not reflect the diversity of perspectives in the classroom. The whole thing smacks of trying to control the narrative and shape the minds of young people. The test itself, as revealed, includes questions like, “When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?” and even more sensitive questions such as, “Who waged the Civil War?”, which are designed to elicit specific answers aligning with their ideology.
This strategy also brings up comparisons to tactics used by authoritarian regimes, such as the Nazi’s, who also vetted teachers. This test, whether intentional or not, serves to politicize education and further exacerbate the existing teacher shortage. With Oklahoma already facing a critical deficit in teachers, why would they take steps that will clearly make the situation worse? Teachers are choosing to leave the classrooms, with an increase of 14% in the 2022-2023 school year. Meanwhile, the state is issuing more and more emergency certifications, and even hiring teachers from other countries, like Mexico. It is clear that the focus is in the wrong direction.
The fact that PragerU, which is not a recognized university, is involved in shaping educational policy is another cause for concern. It demonstrates a blatant disregard for academic rigor and a prioritization of political agendas over sound educational practices. The whole exercise is about putting on a show. The test is designed to support a particular viewpoint and would likely have minimal impact on whether or not a teacher will be successful, and ultimately harms the students. The whole plan seems to be doing nothing but undermining the fundamental goal of education: to help children learn.
The absurdity of the situation is hard to ignore. We have a state struggling to provide adequate education, implementing a test that is likely to further deter qualified teachers from entering the workforce. This feels like a misguided attempt at solving an educational crisis. Instead of attracting the best educators, Oklahoma seems to be creating barriers and ensuring that it remains at the bottom of the educational rankings.
The whole exercise is a clear example of “performance politics” – actions that look good on paper but do little to solve the actual problems. It is a waste of money and time, and it won’t fix what is broken in Oklahoma’s education system. It’s a way to control what children are learning in school, rather than focusing on what they need to learn. It’s hard not to wonder how long it will be before the state finally does what is right for the students and stops pushing a political agenda that is clearly not working.