Oklahoma State Conference NAACP For Immediate Release May 21, 2021
Contact: Terre’ Gables, Director of Communication Email: terreok [at] gmail.com
Anthony R. Douglas, President Email: oknaacp [at] oknaacp.org
Phone: 405.427.8000/Fax:720.5951
Oklahoma’s New Anti-Education Statute: HB-1775
Poorly Written, Poorly Conceived, and Poorly Thought Out
Oklahoma City – Recently, Oklahoma’s governor signed into law House Bill 1775, which seeks to limit education and counseling at the university, secondary, and elementary school levels. The glaring question is: Why would Oklahoma politicians try to prevent education? The answer seems to be that certain legislators are pandering to the racist and sexist factions in their constituents. Of note, Oklahoma’s flagship university, the University of Oklahoma, announced its “strong objection” to the bill. As stated by Millwood Superintendent Cecilia RobinsonWoods, “I think the development of this bill was done without the input, one, of education[r]s, two, of people of color.” As Oklahoma City Superintendent Sean McDaniel put it, “HB 1775 appears to be a solution looking for a problem that does not exist.”
Apparently, out of fear that the next generations may learn true facts about the historical and current ways that racial minorities and women are treated, legislators passed a regressive antieducation law. The drafters of the legislation appear to have a fundamental misunderstanding of “critical race theories.” Consequently, some of the statute’s provisions are pointless because they seek to stop things that are not being done. Others run counter to logic and potentially harm students.
One ill-conceived provision bans “mandatory gender or sexual diversity training or counseling.” Federal law, however, prohibits gender and sexual harassment and discrimination. Common sense dictates that everyone (even politicians) should want to prevent students from being victimized if possible. Lest we forget, approximately half of undergraduates may be teenagers, and many have only the knowledge, sensitivities, and maturity incumbent with their ages. Gender and sexual diversity training help’s to prevent unlawful behavior, thus reducing the number of student victims. It is unclear why any rational person would oppose such training.
Next, the provision bans “mandatory” training, but not the use of university funds to incentivize all students to participate in “voluntary” training. Such incentives could include campus store vouchers, preferential housing, partial tuition rebates, early class sign-up, etc. University administrators may use funds to combat the misguided intent of this provision and render it ineffective. Furthermore, if universities cannot require students who have committed minor acts of gender and sexual harassment or discrimination to undergo remedial training or counseling, administrators are left with the sole option of punishment of these students up to and including removal from campus housing, loss of scholarship or financial aid, and suspension or expulsion from the universities.
Consequently, through this provision, Oklahoma legislators unwittingly now may be mandating severe and more frequently used punishment. Thus, the provision, in practice, may add to the “cancel culture” that conservatives claim exists. If that was their goal, well done. Presumably, however, most students would be smart enough to ask for voluntary training or counseling once faced with notice of harsh punishment.
Another provision bans teaching at the elementary and secondary school levels that “meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race.” Presumably, this provision was written to prevent children from learning the truth about such concepts that blame the oppressed for the hardships that befall them.
The provision, however, does not prohibit teaching that these concepts have been historically used by racists, sexists, and members of a particular race to oppress members of another race. It only prohibits teaching that the concepts were “created” for that purpose. Accordingly, teachers would appear free to teach truthful history and simply not teach about the creation of such concepts.
Next, HB 1775 does not on its face provide any penalty for a university, school, or teacher who violates any provision of the statute. What, if anything, can be done to one who violates the statute remains to be seen.
Finally, and thankfully, HB 1775 provides no private cause of action, meaning no student or parent who feels that the act has been violated has the right to sue anyone. Accordingly, HB 1775 may be the epitome of pointless pandering. It was passed to appease a group of malcontents, while in practicality, having no real effect.
-------END------ Establish in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors
Oklahoma State Conference NAACP For Immediate Release May 21, 2021
Contact: Terre’ Gables, Director of Communication Email: terreok [at] gmail.com
Anthony R. Douglas, President Email: oknaacp [at] oknaacp.org
Phone: 405.427.8000/Fax:720.5951
