By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Former Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters is no longer in office, but his impact on the state’s schools is still being felt. His successor, Lindel Fields, has begun reversing Walters’ controversial policies, including the mandatory presence of Trump Bibles in classrooms and the requirement for teachers to take a PragerU-developed “woke test.” Fields clarified that Bibles are still accessible to students through various means, and the America First test is not a teacher certification requirement. Furthermore, the new superintendent is reviewing some state testing and social studies curriculum standards implemented during Walters’ tenure.
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No Mandatory Bibles, No Prager U Tests: Oklahoma’s New Superintendent Unwinds The Walters Era
It seems there’s finally some positive action being taken to correct some truly outlandish decisions by the previous superintendent in Oklahoma. It’s almost unbelievable, but it looks like they’re trying to steer the state back toward some semblance of normalcy after a period that can only be described as, well, bonkers. One has to wonder what finally pushed things in this direction. My guess? Probably the cold, hard reality of economics. Perhaps business leaders finally stepped in, realizing that the previous policies were tanking recruitment and sending qualified professionals, and businesses themselves, fleeing the state.
As much as some folks are wary of corporate influence, in this case, it appears their voices actually made a difference. They likely saw the financial impact of the former superintendent’s policies and, crucially, communicated that directly to the powers that be. And let’s be honest, PragerU is just digital garbage. It’s a sad state of affairs when propaganda needs to be countered, but here we are. It’s almost comical in how easily some of these things can be undone. Thankfully. I still wouldn’t want to live there, but progress is progress.
Now, this is just the tip of the iceberg, the lowest-hanging fruit of undoing the damage caused by the previous regime. The good news is that the former superintendent’s tenure is currently under review by the Attorney General, thanks to a bit of gentle prodding from Governor Stitt, who, for all his other faults, apparently wasn’t a fan of the previous superintendent’s grandstanding. It sounds like there’s a new superintendent, and hopefully, they’re ready to start fixing Oklahoma’s education system. They’re even trying to do the same thing in Florida right now. PragerU specifically is designed to take advantage of people who are not equipped to participate in the democratic process responsibly.
It seems that the former superintendent’s Bible mandates and the introduction of PragerU’s so-called “edutainment” backfired spectacularly. These policies seemed to cripple recruitment efforts. The resulting exodus of skilled workers, and potentially businesses, likely forced a reality check. The potential exodus ultimately cost more than the “divine” policies. It’s a miracle of sorts. In this case, “dollar sense” finally trumped “scripture sense.”
It’s tempting to dismiss any positive development, but let’s be optimistic for now. It’s a sign that there are still forces at play working to preserve some semblance of sanity. And while the previous administration’s embrace of a certain ideology was, frankly, terrifying, the presence of even a slightly more reasonable figure at the helm is a good thing. The corporations, in an unlikely twist, became the saviors. It’s proof that sometimes, the almighty dollar speaks louder than anything else.
The former superintendent’s apparent aspiration for a role in the Trump administration fueled his actions. Taxpayers essentially funded his quest, as he hired a particular PR firm for his public relations. That kind of political maneuvering is simply unacceptable. It’s nice to hear that someone is trying to right the ship. It’s a good first step, but the work is far from over. I am hoping for progress.