In a move sparking national controversy, Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, has directed high schools across the state to include 2020 election conspiracy theories in their official curriculum—presented not as speculation, but as established fact.
This decision is linked to curriculum recommendations from Project 2025, a controversial educational initiative supported by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. The directive has ignited debates among educators, lawmakers, parents, and education watchdogs across the country.
Project 2025, officially titled Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, is a policy playbook released by the Heritage Foundation. Its aim is to reshape the U.S. government and educational systems based on conservative principles if a Republican candidate takes office in 2025.
Included in its guidelines are proposals for curriculum reform—many of which question mainstream historical and political narratives, including the legitimacy of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
While the Heritage Foundation claims Project 2025 promotes “truth-based education,” critics argue it introduces political bias and misinformation into public classrooms.
For more about Project 2025’s curriculum goals, visit: Heritage Foundation’s Mandate for Leadership
According to leaked curriculum drafts reviewed by local media outlets, high school students in Oklahoma will now be taught:
These topics will be included under the “Civics and Government” and “Modern American History” sections, affecting thousands of students statewide.
A teacher from Tulsa Public Schools, requesting anonymity, said:
“We’re being forced to teach content that has been repeatedly debunked by courts, fact-checkers, and even Trump’s own officials. This isn’t education—it’s indoctrination.”
Civil rights groups and education advocacy organizations have already begun organizing legal challenges.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) have both issued statements condemning the curriculum mandate.
In a press release, the ACLU stated:
“This mandate violates both the constitutional right to a fact-based education and the professional autonomy of educators.”
Legal experts warn that this move could set a dangerous precedent if left unchallenged, potentially allowing states to alter historical and political facts to fit ideological narratives.
For more information on education rights, visit: ACLU Education Equity
Reactions among Oklahoma parents have been mixed.
Some conservative parents support the initiative, believing their children should learn “alternative perspectives” that they feel have been silenced.
However, many parents across political lines are deeply concerned.
Maria Jenkins, a mother of two high schoolers in Oklahoma City, said:
“Teaching lies as truth is not ‘another perspective’—it’s damaging. Our kids need real knowledge, not propaganda.”
Social media platforms have also exploded with reactions, with hashtags like #SaveOklahomaSchools and #TruthInEducation trending locally.
Oklahoma educators are now faced with a difficult choice: comply with the mandate or resist and risk disciplinary action.
Ryan Walters, the State Superintendent, has made it clear that teachers who refuse to follow the new guidelines may face termination.
In a public statement, Walters said:
“Oklahoma students deserve to hear the full story. The left-wing narrative of the 2020 election has gone unchallenged for too long in our schools.”
However, educators argue that academic freedom and critical thinking are being sacrificed.
An open letter signed by more than 600 Oklahoma teachers says:
“We teach facts, not fiction. We prepare students for the real world, not political theatre.”
Education experts warn that Oklahoma could be the first of many states to implement similar changes if Project 2025 gains influence.
With the 2024 election cycle heating up, conservative politicians in other states like Texas, Florida, and South Carolina are reportedly considering similar curriculum reforms.
Dr. Karen Fields, a professor of education policy at the University of Oklahoma, noted:
“If this continues, we could see a deeply divided national education system—where truth depends on your zip code.”
For concerned citizens, students, and educators, here are a few steps that can be taken:
The move to force Oklahoma high schools to teach 2020 election conspiracy theories as fact is being seen not just as an educational shift—but as a political battleground that could shape the minds of future voters.
As educators, parents, and legal experts push back, the nation watches to see how far this battle for the classroom will go.
One thing is clear: the definition of “truth” in American education is now being openly contested, and the outcome could alter the next generation’s understanding of democracy itself.
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