Release
Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, released the following statement regarding final passage of House Bill 1775 on Thursday. The measure prohibits state colleges and universities from requiring gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. It further prohibits school employees from incorporating certain messages about sex and race into any course instruction. The bill will next be considered by the governor. If signed, the measure will go into effect July 1, 2021.
“As a veteran educator with fifteen years’ experience, teaching U.S. History, Government, and the Constitution, I have seen many shifts in curriculum such as pedagogy and critical thinking models. Unfortunately, there is a disturbing trend that has currently found its way into both higher education and in K-12.
“Too many schools and institutions have stopped focusing on high quality education and instead have turned to a policy of indoctrination. As someone who is proud of my public-school roots, this shift is very disappointing and is not acceptable for the students of our state. I am resolved to make sure this does not continue in Oklahoma.
“Critical Race Theory is poison to the minds of students and promotes racism rather than ending it. It is robbing our society of shining stars, so needed in our culture today. I am partial to the words of Dr. King when he said, ‘The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy, instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.’
“I am also moved by the words of another great American, Fredrick Douglas, who said, ‘It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. And it’s true. You cannot give a child back their childhood.’
“Though I did not choose the number, HB 1775, it is rightly numbered. 1775 was the year of ‘the shot heard around the world’. The year that America awoke to her independence. Passage of this bill is a declaration of Oklahoma’s independence against false teaching, pushing back against those who would divide us. I will not stop fighting until our students are free of this indoctrination.”
