Conservatives Push for “Anti-Woke” Education

A behind-the-scenes campaign by Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, has fueled the spread of controversial “anti-woke” classroom materials from the right-wing group PragerU into South Carolina schools. Documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests reveal the extent of Walters’ influence and the secrecy surrounding these decisions.

PragerU, a conservative nonprofit producing educational videos and lesson plans, markets itself as a disruptor of “left-wing propaganda” in schools.

Despite lacking academic credentials, its materials have reached classrooms in multiple states, sparking heated debates. In South Carolina, Superintendent Ellen Weaver joined the effort last fall, announcing the availability of PragerU Kids content statewide.

“This is about fighting back against liberal indoctrination,” Walters declared at a conservative rally last year. His alignment with PragerU reflects a broader strategy to reshape public education with religious and ideological narratives.

A July 2023 email from PragerU official Jessica Sherk to Walters highlights his recommendation to contact South Carolina’s Weaver. “Thank you for your recommendation to reach out to Superintendent Weaver,” Sherk wrote, requesting his help facilitating an introduction. Walters’ response to the email remains unclear, but follow-up communications suggest he continued coordinating with the group.

In a public statement, Walters has claimed PragerU offers “patriotic education” essential for combating “woke ideologies” in schools. However, critics argue these materials promote historical inaccuracies and far-right narratives.

In South Carolina, Democratic State Representative Jermaine Johnson has struggled to uncover how PragerU materials were introduced. “I requested records explaining how this partnership started, and they gave me next to nothing,” Johnson said at a recent press conference.

South Carolina’s Department of Education responded to his FOIA request with vague or incomplete documents. Johnson suspects private emails or encrypted messaging platforms may have been used to evade public records laws.

“What are they hiding?” Johnson asked. “This lack of transparency is a disservice to the public.”

PragerU’s materials have drawn widespread criticism for distorting history. In one cartoon, Frederick Douglass, a staunch abolitionist, is depicted justifying slavery as a “necessary compromise.” Another portrays Christopher Columbus defending enslavement by claiming, “Being taken as a slave is better than being killed.”

Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, condemned the curriculum. “This isn’t education—it’s propaganda. It distorts facts and undermines critical thinking,” he told Education Week.

Both Oklahoma and South Carolina officials have faced scrutiny for opaque dealings with PragerU. Walters, known for controversial policies like mandating Bible education in Oklahoma schools, has also appointed conservative influencers, including Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik, to review library content.

“This is about controlling what our children think,” said Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, who has sparred with Walters over his dismissal of race as a factor in the 1921 Tulsa Massacre.

PragerU, however, maintains that their resources are free, optional, and meant to “empower educators.” A spokesperson declined to address allegations of covert communication but emphasized their mission to provide “age-appropriate, balanced educational content.”

For many, the growing influence of PragerU in public schools signals a national crisis. “We are witnessing the erosion of trust in our public institutions,” said Rep. Johnson. “We need to fight back before it’s too late.”

Liberal advocacy groups have called for federal investigations into whether PragerU’s partnerships violate separation of church and state principles or transparency laws.

Meanwhile, Walters continues to champion what he calls “a conservative renaissance in education.” Whether the public accepts this vision or fights back may shape the future of American classrooms.