Supt. Walters latest ODSE changes raises questions

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — It looks like more changes are coming to your child's education.

Oklahoma's history standards will now reflect "Gulf of America" instead of Gulf of Mexico, and "Mount McKinley" instead of Denali in Alaska.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters wasted no time making the switch following an executive order this week by President Donald Trump renaming both.

However, as you can imagine, the curriculum change is raising eyebrows and leading to new questions.

"There's this discussion and conflict, even inside American society, about identity and about belonging and about whose vision of America will prevail," Brian Hosmer, Head of the Department of History at Oklahoma State University said.

Hosmer believes part of the presidents motivation is retaliatory.

"I think that part of the motivation for what the president is doing is, in a way, reaching back ten years or so to the name changes from schools and monuments and things like that," Hosmer said.

In a press release Thursday, State Superintendent Ryan Walters proudly proclaims Oklahoma is the first state to implement President Trump's executive action.

"I think his rush to be the first state to do this kind of speaks to his position in the overall cultural contract conversation that I've been describing," Hosmer said. "This is consistent with how he has positioned himself as a kind of leading figure in this against "wokeness", you could say."

According to Walters, history standards have been updated to include the terms Gulf of America and Mount McKinley.

We are proud to support President Trump’s orders regarding the Gulf of America and Mount
McKinley. Our nation’s proud history and heritage is accurately reflected in these updates, and President Trump is correct in making them. I look forward to continuing to work with the Trump administration and make our schools, and America, great again.

Supt. Ryan Walters

Democratic Representative Jacob Rosecrants telling News 4 why he thinks this is a bad idea.

Ryan Walters has proven he will do most anything to get the attention of President Trump, so this statement comes as no surprise. What is a surprise is how he was once a social studies teacher who definitely knows better than to change things in this way in our Oklahoma Academic Standards. These executive orders are what I call "wish" executive orders by the president, so it is foolhardy to even change the standards to reflect them. Executive orders don't permanently change place names, no matter how much somebody wishes for it to happen, even the president. Also, I'm not even sure Walters can change the standards, which just went through public comment. these executive orders will cause chaos and confusion, two things which the superintendent knows well. That's what this is all about... he wants us to be more concerned about silly things like this, instead of focusing on his incompetence and blatant dodging of accountability.

Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D) Norman

News 4's Facebook post receiving hundreds of comments.

Among them, one from former Republican Representative Mark McBride, who chaired the House Education Committee.

McBride called the idea of renaming an "interesting" one, but adds "I think the focus should remain on addressing the real challenges facing our state."

Others commenting in support of Walters, like a viewer who said "I voted for this."

Another adding, "Why shouldn't it be named the Gulf of America? It makes a lot more sense."

Prof. Hosmer doesn't believe the change will have much impact on kids education in Oklahoma, but he does have concerns.

"That is the role that the superintendent is taking to shape all aspects of learning," Hosmer said. "It's not really whether it's Gulf of America, Gulf of Mexico or whatever, but it is this sort of determination by the secretary to essentially dictate what is taught in school."

We asked Oklahoma City Public Schools how something like this would be feasible, both financially and materialistically.

We were told our questions were the first time they heard of Walters implementing this, and they will need to discuss it before answering.

It's also important to point out, while the US can change the name of certain geographical places, other countries aren't required to follow.