Oklahoma lawmakers have decided to limit our educational choices. HB 1380 would eliminate funding for Advance Placement (AP) U.S. History. Politicians in the state say they want to ban AP U.S. History because they don’t agree with the content (the true facts and events of history are not fitting to a narrow, revisionist vision of history and maintaining a politically-motivated agenda).
“The bill, authored by Oklahoma Rep. Dan Fisher, designates a total of 58 documents that “s…hall form the base level of academic content for all United States History courses offered in the schools in the state.”
Many of the texts are uncontroversial and currently covered by the Advanced Placement U.S. History course, such as the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and Gettysburg Address; but the bill also has an ideological and religious side. The bill will REQUIRE all students to attend a class that focuses on the 10 Commandments, 3 speeches by President Ronald Reagan, and a speech by George W. Bush. NO speeches or documents from any Democratic President since Lyndon Johnson will be permitted.
As a supporter of literacy and the freedom to read, Banned Books Awareness and Reading for Knowledge supports and signs this petition.
