Oklahoma is putting in a new rule that’s already causing a stir. Teachers from New York or California who want jobs there will have to take what’s being called a “MAGA loyalty test.”
The idea is that the test would weed out what officials describe as “radical leftist ideology.”
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Oklahoma introduces a controversial new test
Ryan Walters, the state’s schools superintendent, said the test would be run by PragerU, a group known for making conservative content.
He’s been clear about what he’s trying to do. “As long as I am superintendent, Oklahoma classrooms will be safeguarded from the radical leftist ideology fostered in places like California and New York,” Walters said in a statement.
Walters explains his vision for education
In an interview with USA Today, Walters said the test would roll out soon. On X, he framed it as a way to teach kids without what he called “liberal indoctrination.”
“These reforms will reset our classrooms back to educating our children without liberal indoctrination,” Walters wrote. He added, “We’re proud to defend these standards, and we will continue to stand up for honest, pro-America education in every classroom.”
Early examples of the exam questions emerge
Reporters who got an early look at the test said it starts off with things like asking for the first three words of the U.S. Constitution. It also asks candidates to explain why freedom of religion is “important to America’s identity.”
The test includes questions on US government basics
USA Today said other questions are more like a civics quiz. For example:
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
- House of Lords and Commons
- Courts and Senate
- Executive and Legislative
- Senate and House of Representatives
How many U.S. Senators are there?
- 435
- 110
- 50
- 100
Why do some states have more Representatives than others?
- They cover a larger geographic area.
- They have held statehood for a longer period.
- The number is determined by military presence.
- Representation is determined by population size.
Teachers’ unions push back strongly
Not everyone is on board. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, blasted the whole idea. “This MAGA loyalty test will be yet another turnoff for teachers in a state already struggling with a huge shortage,” she said.
Political leaders voice their concerns
John Waldron, chair of Oklahoma’s Democratic Party, said that if he had faced this kind of test when he moved from Washington DC in 1999, he would have thought the state “wasn’t serious about attracting quality teachers.”
Oklahoma faces an ongoing teacher shortage
He also pointed out the bigger problem. “Teachers are not rushing here from other states to teach. We’ve got an enormous teacher shortage and it’s not like we have a giant supply of teachers coming in from blue states anyway,” he said.
