The conservative group, whose content was recently approved for Florida schools, has made classroom materials denying climate science and downplaying slavery.
OKLAHOMA, USA — PragerU, the conservative advocacy group recently approved to legally distribute its "PragerU Kids" content to Florida schools, has been approved for a second state: Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's superintendent of public instruction, Ryan Walters, announced the state's partnership with PragerU in a statement shared on social media. Walters said he was excited to be teaming with PragerU and that the content would be "fact-based with no left-wing indoctrination."
Putting Oklahoma education back on track without liberal indoctrination. CC @prageru
— Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) September 6, 2023
As The Daily Beast reports, Walters' term as superintendent has been wracked with controversy.
PragerU has been no less controversial. A disclaimer on its website points out that the institution is "not a university, nor do we claim to be." Identifying itself as "the world's leading conservative nonprofit," PragerU makes video content for adults and children that promotes right-wing viewpoints regarding history and current events.
Since Florida's Department of Education approved the use of "PragerU Kids" content for use in schools in July, their videos have been subject to greater scrutiny and backlash.
One clip, an animated segment where two kids meet Frederick Douglass went viral for seeming to downplay the country's institutionalization of slavery, demonize the Black Lives Matter movement, and discourage "radical" social activism.
Of all the PragerU propaganda you've seen, this might be the worst.
Frederick Douglass takes a dig at BLM while praising the founding fathers as abolitionists and calling the Constitution a "glorious liberty document."
Florida is letting schools play this stuff.
— David Heath (@davidhth) August 7, 2023
In another clip, an animated Christopher Columbus informs kids that slavery was no big deal in his time because of how widespread it was and suggests that being taken a slave was "better than being killed."
The Florida Department of Education has approved far-right propaganda from PragerU to be taught in K-12 schools.
In one video, two kids meet Christopher Columbus, who tells the kids that slavery was “no big deal" and that “being taken as a slave is better than being killed.”
— Dana Abercrombie #AmplifyBlackVoices (@sagesurge) September 6, 2023
PragerU has also gotten backlash for videos that deny climate science and defend the use of coal and other fossil fuels. According to Forbes, one of their other videos described George Floyd as "a Black man who resisted arrest."
Forbes also said that YouTube has restricted, demonetized and removed videos on PragerU’s channel, including two anti-trans videos that were removed for violating hate speech policies.
The controversies surrounding PragerU appeared to precede them as some Oklahomans criticized the state's decision to bring their content into schools.
Welp time to pull my kid out of Oklahoma schools.
— Redzeoranger (@redzeogaming) September 6, 2023
Want to opt your #OklaEd child out of PragerU's warped history? Here's a FREE Newspeak opt-out sample letter you can email to your child's school today! 🤦♂️
— Pastors for Oklahoma Kids (@pastors4OKkids) September 5, 2023
I think you crave attention @RyanWaltersSupt. So you’re loving this even negative attention. You’re a very needy little boy. I would pity you but you’re trying to destroy Oklahoma and our kid’s education. You need serious help. Resign and get help.
— D Beese (@d_bdown) September 6, 2023
You are doing your level best to destroy the future of Oklahoma. We won’t settle down. We will advocate for your impeachment until you are either out of office or in the federal penitentiary for financial crimes.
Endless pressure, endlessly applied.
Until you are out of office
— TulsaTeresa (@TulsaTeresa) September 6, 2023
I hope PragerU doesn’t make its way to @jenkstrojans. Just because we choose to live in the great state of Oklahoma, and in the amazing city of Tulsa, does not mean we want our educational system to follow bottom-tier states. What is @GovStitt thinking?
— Michael Wheelus (@wheelusone) September 6, 2023
While the use of "PragerU Kids" material will not be required in schools, it will be provided as a supplement to public school lesson materials, and it will be legal for teachers to use in their lessons under Oklahoma law.
Lawmakers in Texas are also considering adopting "PragerU Kids" for public schools, but they have not officially made their decision.
