Oklahoma Bans AP History

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, History is the version of past events that
people have decided to agree upon.
The legislatures of Oklahoma are taking a stand for which history they believe
students should be taught with House Bill 1380 which prohibits public schools from
teaching the advanced placement United States history course. The bill passed 11-4
on Monday, February 16 and will be effective July 1, 2015.
Republican Representative Daniel Fisher introduced the bill, which ceases
funding to AP history courses and mandates a specific list of documents and events
to be taught in future U.S. history courses.
"(The new framework) trades an emphasis on America's founding principles
of Constitutional government in favor of robust analyses of gender and racial
oppression and class ethnicity and the lives of marginalized people, where the
emphasis on instruction is of America as a nation of oppressors and exploiters,"
Fisher said, in an interview with CNN.
In lieu of this, the bill specifically addresses the urgency of altering history
courses.
It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace,
health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this
act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval,
(HB 1380, section 4).
According to section 2 of the bill, AP history courses will not be in school
districts until the College Board changes course material.
Linda Hampton, president of the Oklahoma Education Association is not
pleased with the new bill.
We are a wonderfully diverse state. But the Tulsa race riots, the Trail of Tears
those things happened. We cant sanitize history, she said.
As high school students take AP courses, the news affected students at OBU.
I took many AP courses in high school and they meant a lot to me, said
Brook Bowen, a junior family and community service major. Without them, I would
have never been challenged in school and I would've never known how to study or
what to do with myself in college. I also wouldn't have had the freedom to explore
different career options in college because I wouldn't have been able to come in
with 12 hours.
With regards to the bill, Dr. Glenn Sanders, professor of history and division
chair for behavior and social sciences spoke about the importance of learning
history.

Historians have the calling and responsibility to tell truthful stories based on
the best available evidence, Sanders said. They should tell those stories,
generally to a particular audience, with verve, clarity, depth, and honesty. Those
stories help communities and individuals in many ways: to create just institutions
and practices, to avoid bad actions, to inspire.
Sanders also mentioned the purpose of teaching history versus the purpose
of politics.
The requirements of history and politics often meet in the public history
classroom, where politicians often want simple stories--generally not altogether
true--in order to mold young people toward good citizenship, Sanders said.
Historians and history teachers often have the same goal, but they feel critical
assessment of the past important for reaching it. Conflicts thus arise.
Bowen also believes that the bill takes away opportunities from students.
What alarms me the most is that politics are coming before education,
Bowen said. Because politicians feel that the AP US history class, and other AP
classes, are worthless or teach the material wrong, they're wanting to take it away.
That's shameful and wrong. Kids are diverse and so our education system should be
diverse. Some kids need more challenge, some kids need less. They should have
the option to pick their challenge level so that they can be pushed to their full
potential and grow. It should be a matter of what education system works best, not
what is politically correct.
Sanders also said that AP classes should continue to receive funding.
AP courses generally teach above-average students lots of details about the
past and sophisticated ways of thinking about those details, he said. The AP label
motivates certain students. It looks good on college applications. For those reasons
alone politicians should generally not get directly involved and instead let teachers
and historians do their work. AP courses should get additional support, not have
their existing support withdrawn.
Bowen has taken action against the bill and encourages others to follow suit.
Find out who your legislator is and email them about your opinions and
experiences, she said. Share your AP experiences. Don't be silent. Ask other
people what they think, start conversations about it. Spread the word. Do anything
and everything you can to oppose it if you're opposed. I have signed a petition
opposing the decision and have gotten in contact with my legislator, Emily Virgin.