One US state now requires teachers to pass 'America First' test to prove they’re not ‘too woke’
A US state will reportedly require trainee teachers to pass a test to prove they don't have 'radical leftist ideology'.
According to reports, Oklahoma will now ask applicants from California and New York to sit an exam that people are calling a 'MAGA loyalty test'.
Ryan Walters, Oklahoma's public schools superintendent, has said that the test will be administered by PragerU.
"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.
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According to The Associated Press, who have reportedly seen the first five questions, the exam asks applicants to list the first three words of the US Constitution and to explain why freedom of religion is 'important to America's identity'.
Meanwhile, USA Today say that applicants will have to show they know 'the biological differences between females and males'.
Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU, told CNN that several questions relate to 'undoing the damage of gender ideology'.
The test has attracted a lot of criticism, with the American Federation of Teachers' President Randi Weingarten saying: "This MAGA loyalty test will be yet another turnoff for teachers in a state already struggling with a huge shortage."
Meanwhile, Tina Ellsworth, president of the nonprofit National Council for the Social Studies, added: "State boards of education should stay true to the values and principles of the U.S. Constitution.
"Imposing an ideology test to become a teacher in our great democracy is antithetical to those principles."
In an interview with USA Today, Walters said that the state Department of Education will introduce the test soon to ensure new teachers 'are not coming into our classrooms and indoctrinating kids'.
"These reforms will reset our classrooms back to educating our children without liberal indoctrination," Walters wrote on X.
"We’re proud to defend these standards, and we will continue to stand up for honest, pro-America education in every classroom."
USA Today claim that other questions on the test include:
- What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? A. House of Lords and Commons B. Courts and Senate C. Executive and Legislative D. Senate and House of Representatives
- How many U.S. Senators are there? A. 435 B. 110 C. 50 D. 100
- Why do some states have more Representatives than others?A. They cover a larger geographic area. B. They have held statehood for a longer period. C. The number is determined by military presence. D. Representation is determined by population size.
Tyla has reached out to PragerU and the White House for comment.
Lucy Devine