Oklahoma Lawmakers Vote Overwhelmingly To Ban Advanced Placement U.S. History

Students protest proposed changes to U.S. history curriculum in Colorado

An Oklahoma legislative committee overwhelmingly voted to ban Advanced Placement U.S. History class, persuaded by the argument that it only teaches students “what is bad about America.” Other lawmakers are seeking a court ruling that would effectively prohibit the teaching of all AP courses in public schools.
Oklahoma Rep. Dan Fisher (R) has introduced “emergency” legislation “prohibiting the expenditure of funds on the Advanced Placement United States History course.” Fisher is part of a group called the “Black Robe Regiment” which argues “the church and God himself has been under assault, marginalized, and diminished by the progressives and secularists.” The group attacks the “false wall of separation of church and state.” The Black Robe Regiment claims that a “growing tide of special interest groups indoctrinating our youth at the exclusion of the Christian perspective.”
Fisher said the Advanced Placement history class fails to teach “American exceptionalism.” The bill passed the Oklahoma House Education committee on Monday on a vote of 11-4. You can read the actual course description for the course here
thinkprogress.org...
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Pls klik for more: You know as a self proclaimed amateur historian , this is especially galling I mean these guys came kicking and screaming about small government, but what they do they do the first chance they get, micro manage everything, especially the educational system they are firmly into teaching history as propaganda instead of the what, where , how and why things happened in the past, it's impact on the present and what can be learnt so we can move on to a better future..and this trend is happening not only in Colorado and Oklahoma but many other states as well.
Look I am a Lib or progressive everyone knows this, and I am not against certain conservative POVs , I can agree with some issues and massively disagree with a lot more, but to those of you who labeled yourselves Conservatives, can you not let these people represent you?? History and the truth should not be viewed as a Liberal bias that's craaazy!!!

Your OP lacks anything of substance other than a link to a extreme left wing source and an article blurb. Care to elaborate on what you think? Are you suggesting that the material wasn't biased? Do you have any specifics as to why it was opposed? Please offer more than a liberal hit-piece.

ETA: I see you edited in some of your own thoughts. Thank you for the update to your OP. Here is the thing, though. With small omissions or additions and some clever wording history can be completely biased. There really aren't any specifics on what exactly the law makers opposed so for either of us to agree or disagree with their actions would be unwise without more data.

I don't like partisan politics and I know your source to be biased so we know there is a partisan slant to the article. It is disingenuous to assume that the law makers were wrong without the rest of the story. I just ask you look at both sides of the argument. Usually both sides sill have valid arguments and the truth will lie somewhere in the middle.

originally posted by: Metallicus
Your OP lacks anything of substance other than a link to a extreme left wing source and an article blurb. Care to elaborate on what you think? Are you suggesting that the material wasn't biased? Do you have any specifics as to why it was opposed? Please offer more than a liberal hit-piece.

Did you read the article it state the reasons why..
And no the material wasn't biased .

a reply to: Spider879

Yes I read you article and it was biased and without specific wording of the text we can't make a fair judgement. Almost all history books are biased one way or the other. If this was part of a common core program I can guarantee it has a decidedly liberal bias as all the common core books and lesson plans do.

I see both sides of the argument and I am not going to give you a free pass to bash the decision. No one gets that here at ATS.

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: Spider879

Yes I read you article and it was biased and without specific wording of the text we can't make a fair judgement. Almost all history books are biased one way or the other. If this was part of a common core program I can guarantee it has a decidedly liberal bias as all the common core books and lesson plans do.

I see both sides of the argument and I am not going to give you a free pass to bash the decision. No one gets that here at ATS.

Not asking for a Pass matter of fact,that would be disrespectful, and not treating me like an adult, I prefer criticism to praise , but here is their intent
The group attacks the “false wall of separation of church and state.”
From the sub link

The letter takes the framework to task for its "negative" approach to U.S. history. As an example, it attacks the framework for portraying U.S. colonists as "oppressors and exploiters while ignoring the dreamers and innovators who built our country." The signatories also say that at 98 pages, the framework essentially replaces the five-page topic outline with a full-blown curriculum, and one that conflicts with many states' social studies standards.
blogs.edweek.org...

Bottom a response to the Sub link which is another sub link.

Asked whether any political parties influenced the changes to the exam, Lindauer said: “Our efforts to clarify the framework are in response to—as [College Board President] David [Coleman] noted—some ‘principled confusion’ from members of the education community and others.”

To alleviate concerns like those brought up by the RNC resolution, Coleman said in a letter Monday that he decided to release a full practice exam, in which “our founders are resonant throughout.”
www.thedailybeast.com...

A group called the "Black Robe Regiment" thats creepy in of itself. And they're upset that the youth arent indoctrinated with Christian Ideology.
America just seems odd from an outside persepctive sometimes.

a reply to: Spider879

I appreciate your response. It sounds to me as if conservatives have some valid concerns, but that is just my opinion. I also understand the liberal backlash to the conservative action.

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: Spider879

I appreciate your response. It sounds to me as if conservatives have some valid concerns, but that is just my opinion. I also understand the liberal backlash to the conservative action.

I just don't see it though, especially in advance history courses I donno maybe for first graders things can be dumbed down, not that I am in favor of that, but certainly not at that level we are talking about.

originally posted by: WilsonWilson
A group called the "Black Robe Regiment" thats creepy in of itself. And they're upset that the youth arent indoctrinated with Christian Ideology.
America just seems odd from an outside persepctive sometimes.

The black robe thing appears to be related to judges who wear black robes in court. It is referencing their status as a legal watch dog group. Not really creepy in context.

As far as America being odd to outsiders...the entire county was founded by people that wanted to do things differently. That ideal is still strongly ingrained in our psyche as a nation. To be fair, Asia and Europe do some weird things too.

a reply to: Spider879

Why is it liberals always want to paint american history so thoroughly bad?

Yes our founders owned slaves, it was perfectly acceptable at the time.

You can't teach history today, from today's perspective.

You have to teach it in context.

Yes I agree slavery is bad, no one should own another human, this is today's standards though.

They did not exist back then.

So painting the founders as villains using today's standards is ludicrous.

Teach history in context, no issues.

This is not what libs do though.

They paint the founders as villains for owning slaves, like they lived in our modern era and knew it was wrong.

At the time, it was perfectly proper to do so.

Context man context, if you libs would learn this, you would learn the most important lesson in the world.

Just because it is wrong in modern america doesn't mean it was always wrong everywhere.

Buy a fricking clue.

a reply to: infinityorder

I disagree. It was just as wrong back then as it is now. If the things that were done to the slaves would case you pain now then it most assuredly caused them pain then!
Or do you think that it would be appropriate for some one to whip you into submissive under the "right circumstances"?

Yes some of our founders owned slaves...
but they also gave us a great amount of freedom to explore and debate issues and through that exploration and debate we changed!!! They gave us the power to transform the world into something better if we so desired.

why should we deny our past or be ashamed of it?? It's there! It's a part of us!! And we would not be where we are (the good the bad and the ugly) if it was for what happened then. Isn't it better to explore it note the mistakes that have been made, those things that didn't quite work out, and celebrate those things that worked out great?

Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it.

a reply to: WilsonWilson

America just seems odd from an outside persepctive sometimes.

You think it seems odd from the outside, you should see it from in here. Odd doesn't cover it. Insane maybe, but not odd.

a reply to: Metallicus

I guess that was hevaily based on religious groups wanting to live away from other religions, so i guess it does permeate down.

originally posted by: Metallicus
The black robe thing appears to be related to judges who wear black robes in court. It is referencing their status as a legal watch dog group. Not really creepy in context.

It's VERY creepy in context:

The Black Robe Regiment

The Black Robe Regiment is a resource and networking entity where church leaders and laypeople can network and educate themselves as to our biblical responsibility to stand up for our Lord and Savior and to protect the freedoms and liberties granted to a moral people in the divinely inspired US Constitution.
...
It is in this spirit that we have created this site. It is to serve as a resource and reference for church leaders and laypeople alike. It is to be a portal for Christians to communicate and network in order to restore the body of Christ to its rightful position of tolerant leadership in all aspects of our government.

If you are OK with a theology, I guess it's not too creepy...

It is Our Mission:

***To educate all people and restore to its rightful place the Church in America (indeed, the entire earth);

***To provide educational materials for use in the Church and for the American Public to restore our American History and the History of the American Church, so as to restore what has been lost by way of deception and historical revision;

***To provide a safe haven and network of like-minded Christian individuals to pursue these endeavors.

***To restore the American Church in her capacity as the Body of Christ, ambassadors of Christ, moral teacher of America and the World, and overseer of of all principalities and governing officials (Rom 13), as was rightfully established long ago (under the leadership of Moses, the first appointed head of the Children of Israel and of God--see Exo 18:13-27).

***To stand in support for our Jewish brethren and defend the State of Israel against the growing tide of anti-Semitism. It is our biblical responsibility to stand in solidarity with God's chosen people, for it is through Israel that God's prophecy will be reveled and our salvation assured.

Creeped out yet?

originally posted by: dawnstar
a reply to: infinityorder

I disagree. It was just as wrong back then as it is now. If the things that were done to the slaves would case you pain now then it most assuredly caused them pain then!
Or do you think that it would be appropriate for some one to whip you into submissive under the "right circumstances"?

Yes some of our founders owned slaves...
but they also gave us a great amount of freedom to explore and debate issues and through that exploration and debate we changed!!! They gave us the power to transform the world into something better if we so desired.

why should we deny our past or be ashamed of it?? It's there! It's a part of us!! And we would not be where we are (the good the bad and the ugly) if it was for what happened then. Isn't it better to explore it note the mistakes that have been made, those things that didn't quite work out, and celebrate those things that worked out great?

Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it.

So then because I talk history in the context of the times it happened in I think it is OK to own and abuse people?

Are you insane?

Is it wrong by out standards for your dog to catch and kill the neighbors cat?

Of course it is to us.

To the cat and the dog though? It is just the world.

They don't understand the context if our outrage any more than people back then did of our opinions about slavery today.

It was not wrong back then, in fact it was legal acceptable by all levels of society, in most societies on earth at the time.

Context.....it is very important.

By pur standards women should be treated as equals, in the Muslim world not so much.

Can you not understand the difference?

You can't judge behavior a couple hundred years ago by today's standards, that is wrong on so many levels.

You can say by today s standards it is wrong, and explain that at the time they thought it was OK.

But you can not label them evil, because our standards are much different than theirs were.

a reply to: infinityorder

I dont think this argument is valid.
They new back then it was wrong to beat, kill and rape and own slaves.
They just didnt care because it was legal.

a reply to: infinityorder

That's got to be one of the most pathetic excuses/reasons to ignore truth that I've
ever heard.

If it's wrong now, it was wrong then and no amount of "context" will change that.

What context would justify the rape, murder and pillaging committed by Christopher Columbus?

What kind of context would justify the American government giving blankets infected with smallpox to the Indians?

Pathetic, just pathetic.

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic
Thank you for posting that, BH. And yes, I am totally creeped out. 2000 years, and some are still trying to conquer the world in the name of Christianity. That's some scary s--t there.

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

I for one, am more than creeped out by this "black robe" group as well as by their aspirations.

IMO, while their methods of accomplishing their goals may not be as severe, their intent is no better than that of ISIS, which is to dominate our government with their religious beliefs.

If left unchecked, I fear that in the future our history will show that this modern day version of the Neo-conservative, bible thumping wing of the GOP did more long term damage to America than ISIS ever did.

When a country aims to erase any aspects of its history that may be 'ugly', and seeks to portray only an image of perfection, saintliness, and omnipotence....

THAT is when you've got your first steps towards tyrannical dictatorship.

These are very scary people indeed.