309 Comments
User's avatar
Joe King's avatar

The fact that Walters wants a "competency" test for teachers from states at the top of the national rankings to be allowed to teach in his state, currently ranked last, is all the evidence you need that it isn't about education, but ideological purity for indoctrination.

Expand full comment
Linda Bower's avatar

I can’t even look at this guy, he’s terrifying. Two black holes for eyes that sink back into his head. Is there a person in there anymore? I’d say not.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

It’s hard to believe how far our country has deliberately fallen. Ryan Walters, to any thinking human, is a coyote in the hen house. A 💯 percent disaster for the educational requirements of Oklahoma, he continues on, as Shitler’s henchman, with impunity.

And don’t we all love Ryan as a blonde?

Expand full comment
Straw's avatar

I'm not really surprised how far your country has fallen. It has been obvious for some years that way too many people don't understand how to cope with your society and other people not identical to themselves. .

I mean, you had segregated schools for decades. And of course, people who believe they are living in the best country that ever existed find it hard to better themselves and the country.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

They taught me that shit and I bought it, hook, line & sinker. It’s embarrassing, Straw.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

PragerU

rationalwiki.org/wiki/PragerU

The appropriately monikered PU says it themselves: "Prager University is not an accredited academic institution and does not offer certification or diplomas."

IOW, they are worse than useless.

(If anyone had trouble with the link, it's fixed)

Expand full comment
Joe King's avatar

Prager U = Propaganda Unlimited.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Beat me to it, Joe 🤐

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Propaganda U is more like it. Created by morons, for morons.

Expand full comment
Chris Titchmarsh's avatar

There are as authentic as the (not) Discovery Institute.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

I remain ashamed that DI is HQd in my city. How did THAT happen? We’re the least-religious large metro area in the country.

Expand full comment
XJC's avatar

Great weather? Accessible NBA team?

Expand full comment
Old Man Shadow's avatar

Every accusation is a confession. Conservatives want to turn education into propaganda factories.

Expand full comment
Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

That was clear a mile back when they started talking about PragerU. PU is just a propaganda machine, only idiot MAGA family members believe anything that comes out of it.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Following in the hallowed footsteps of Bad Vlad. There is no question about it now. The Republicons are following Russian standards to transform our country. The big, bad, Russia hating Republicons are kissing Russian ass.

Expand full comment
Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

I remember a time when repukes liked to say, 'better dead than red.' Now look at them, Putin is an object of worship.

Expand full comment
Sko Hayes's avatar

But could TRUMP pass this test?

Expand full comment
larry parker's avatar

Someone would have to read it for him. But like Hemant said, you can't fail. You can't move on to the next question until you get the "reich" answer.

Expand full comment
Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Not if he has to answer on a sheet of paper without pictures and bullet points.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

He'd answer every question with a single word in all caps: "TARIFFS!!!"

Expand full comment
Joe King's avatar

And his acolyte Walters would score it 110 % correct.

Expand full comment
Psittacus Ebrius's avatar

Or "FIFTH".

Expand full comment
Boreal's avatar

Arrest, trial, conviction, sentencing, shiv.

Expand full comment
Richard S. Russell's avatar

There's a term within prisons for the inmates that even fellow inmates consider the lowest of the low: "short eyes" — those who have eyes for short people (that is, kids), and not because they're just fond of the little tykes.

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

Works for me and sooner, better.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Or, arrest, trial, incarceration, hung to tenderize and soon, a food supply for the other incarcerated MAGATS. How fun would it be to feed Shitler hocks to Nosferatu Miller?

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

The only positive test Shitler ever took was one for syphilis.

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

Donnie is still hung on man-woman-camera-tv-et-cetera. As long as he as that, he's happy.

Expand full comment
Paolo Biscotto's avatar

If it were presented as a video with a botoxed-and-filled Fox hostess slowly reading the questions and the answer choices, he would stumble plenty but he would make it to the end.

Expand full comment
Maltnothops's avatar

Just imagine how many Sharpie checkmarks would on his screen.

Expand full comment
Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

“(“Answer”: To preserve fairness, safety, and integrity for both sexes)”

Safety for creepy old men to ogle children’s private parts. That’s all this trans panic shit has lead to, laws requiring adult inspection of children’s genitals. And in this state, deaths of children who don’t conform to strict binary gender standards. Something Walters celebrated when it happened in OK. The ghoul.

Expand full comment
Joan the Dork's avatar

I can't fathom how there are enough hours in the day for conservatives to spend so much of their time thinking about trans folks' genitals. I mean, for shit's sake, I've got a set of my own, and I think about them when I wash, wank, and wee, and that's about it. I can't imagine getting 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 useful done if I thought about my junk as often as Ryan Walters thinks about my junk, and I gotta say, while ordinarily it'd be pretty flattering to have someone be so obsessed with my junk, it's just a 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 bit creepy when it's a reject from a Klan rally modeling for a Hitlerjugen recruitment poster while posing as a public official in Oklahoma. I've got a 𝘭𝘰𝘵 of kinks, but that ain't one of them.

Expand full comment
ericc's avatar
7hEdited

Conservative politicians will talk about it for as long as it gets them votes, and conservative evangelists will talk about it as long as it gets them clicks/views/profit.

Which is probably a long time, because we humans seem to love titillating topics. I guarantee you that when the topic of trans rights no longer gets clicks, politicians and rabble-rousers will still be talking about *someone's* genitals and how they use them, just maybe not trans people's.

Expand full comment
Bensnewlogin's avatar

Then you just have to try harder.

Expand full comment
oraxx's avatar
9hEdited

Prager U. isn't an actual university and they have no more credibility than Alex Jones. I cannot imagine what qualifies them to decide who is, or is not, a real American. It's as absurd as trying to determine who is a TRUE Christian. A question that has spilled enough blood to float the Navy. Evidently, Walters thinks Jesus and right-wing bombast are all it will take to turn Oklahoma's awful schools around. The goal here is to produce a crop of goose-stepping, Bible-thumping warriors for Jesus.

Expand full comment
RegularJoe's avatar

PragerU: Because TrumpU is closed, and you're too stupid to pass the entrance exams for Dunning-Kruger Community College.

Expand full comment
Joe King's avatar

𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠? (“𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟”: 𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑦)

Real answer: Karyotype (chromosomes), phenotype, hormonal balancr, gonads, genitalia. Sometimes these characteristics do not match each other, an individual like that is considered intersex. This also usually, but not always, lines up with gender.

𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑’𝑠 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑥 𝑡𝑦𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑?

(“𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟”: 𝑉𝑖𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠)

Sex is usually assigned at birth by examining the genitalia, however, there are cases of ambiguous genitalia indicative of a possible intersex condition. Best practice according to the data is to allow the child to develop then provide medical treatment to help the child's phenotype more closely match their gender, if the child desires.

𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑐ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑥 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑠?

(“𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟”: 𝑋𝑋/𝑋𝑌)

Mostly the X and Y chromosomes. But not always. (For further information: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Intersex_variations)

𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑐𝑦?

(“𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟”: 𝑇𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑡𝑦, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑒𝑠)

Generally, because individuals have a fundamental right to be respected for who they are. The current sex segregation in this country is generally a good thing, but it shouldn't be police to the point of harassing individuals who do not appear stereotypically male or female. The current sports segregation could be replaced by other schemes which account for the fact that there is considerable overlap in the abilities of male and female athletes, as well as the fact that nonbinary people exist, and do not quite fit into "men's" or "women's" sports.

How did I do?

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

Nope, nope, nope, WAY too complicated. Walters want simple and easy and obviously reductive (that's become a favorite word of mine as it comes to people like Wally lately). He can't deal with the subtleties and nuances of sexuality and gender, and besides, his holey book doesn't mention them, so neither will he.

And the kids will pay the price for his obtuseness.

Expand full comment
Joe King's avatar

He wants reality to be as simple and black and white as his interpretation of his favorite book he hasn't read. And he wants children to become obedient drones parroting his simplistic view of the world. He is an idiot authoritarian who should be nowhere near the education of children.

Expand full comment
ericc's avatar
7hEdited

If an adult is identifying a schoolchild's sex by "anatomical observation", they should probably be going to jail. The vast majority of the time, it's through speech: the adult uses a gender marker in their speech, if it's wrong the child corrects them, the adult apologizes and uses the corrected one, and the world moves on.

It's amazing how easy it is, if one isn't trying to be nasty to trans kids.

***

My gut reaction to the 'important in privacy' question is to say: it's objectively not. This is a societal value. Plenty of cultures haven't necessarily thought it was important at all.

That includes new testament peoples. Anyone who has seen a Roman public toilet should realize that Mary, Mary Magdalene, the disciples, Jesus, Joseph, all of a sat down and shat next to each other, boys and girls together, no walls, partitions, separate facilities. That doesn't make it better or worse than our system, but it is to point out that the people they revere so much didn't have most of the privacy rules these folks defend as necessary.

Expand full comment
John Smith's avatar

Like the MAGAS know anything about historical cultures of the ancient world. The MAGAS don’t know much about anything unless they were told by their clergy and leadership what to think on any subject!

Expand full comment
Chris Titchmarsh's avatar

Ask Graham Linehan, Richard Dawkins, and J K Rowling. They will tell you that up you got it all wrong. In other words, you did very well.

Is it fair that top athletes have more efficient cardiovascular systems and muscles to the average person? Is it fair that Michael Phelps has flippers for feet? Top level sport is NOT FAIR. That is the whole point of competition.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Well stated, Joe. It takes about 5 minutes of research to understand that the world is much much more than XX/XY.

Expand full comment
OwossoHarpist's avatar

Prager sounds like "Prego spaghetti sauce."

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

I suspect that Prager is emphatically inedible!

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

I still remember the PU video when young adults were allowed to stay on their parents' health insurance until they were 26. "Kids used to be proud to be independent of their parents" They still are when they can afford to support themselves with that college degree and $90+k in debt (state school, in-state tuition)

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

It's in there.

Expand full comment
Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

“When your state lies”

As all repubelican states do.

“at the bottom of national education rankings…”

Oh, that makes sense too.

Expand full comment
Bensnewlogin's avatar

It’s almost all propaganda, isn’t it?

But the very best question was this: who was president during the great depression and World War II?

Funny, but the great depression started in 1929, when herbert Hoover, boy republican, was president. And World War II was not started by Roosevelt. In fact, he had been president for nine years when the United States finally got involved.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

Herbert Hoover was POTUS in March of '29. Another wealthy businessman, like Trump.

Guess what happened during the Depression? Republicans issued tariffs. They made the Depression worse,

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

Can you say, "Smoot-Hawley," boys and girls? I KNEW that you could!

Expand full comment
Boreal's avatar

Der pumpkinfuhrer once made the claim that Smoot Hawley is what ended the Great Depression.

Expand full comment
Len Koz's avatar

What Turd Trotsky doesn't know about history could fill museums.

Oh, wait, it does.

Expand full comment
Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

I came up with Addlepated Twitler, it may not have alliteration , but it’s pretty descriptive.

Expand full comment
Len Koz's avatar

And I doubt any of his followers are literate enough to understand addlepated. Knowledge for the win!

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

😂😂😂

Expand full comment
Bensnewlogin's avatar

I’d say it, but I’m likely to get arrested for it. It sounds dirty.

Expand full comment
Bensnewlogin's avatar

You are correct. My bad. Hoover became president on March 4, and the shit hit the fan later.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

Yep. It all came crashing down in October of '29. And then the GOP decided to throw gasoline on the fire wih Smoot-Hawley. Took a Democrat to simultaneously pull us out of an economic disaster and help fight World War 2.

Expand full comment
John Smith's avatar

This is the difference between you and the MAGAS! You will admit that you are wrong and learn from it. The MAGAS will never admit that they are wrong, instead the MAGAS will double down on their position.

A MISTAKE NOT ACKNOWLEDGE, IS A MISTAKE THAT CAN’T BE CORRECTED!!!

Expand full comment
Bensnewlogin's avatar

I wasn’t wrong! I was merely mistaken. And it’s all Google’s fault anyway.

so there!

Expand full comment
John Smith's avatar

I wasn’t trying to be insulting, I was merely pointing out that you will admit you are wrong, unlike the MAGAS who will continue to go forward and keep thinking the way they do. And you will learn from your mistake, while the MAGAS will either ignore new information or double down on what the MAGAS think is the “truth”.

I have a hard time trying to express myself without sounding rude or insulting. Tact and diplomacy are not my strong suit, I prefer to say exactly what I think, unfortunately a lot of times (even when I am not trying to) it come off like I am being rude and insulting! So accept my apologies if I appear that way!!!!!!

Expand full comment
Bensnewlogin's avatar

I know you weren’t saying that.😀😘 I thought the tone of my comment didn’t require a /s.

Seriously, don’t worry about it. I’m a very easy-going guy. For someone to insult me takes more effort than most people are willing to put into it. I tend to like everyone, and for the few people in my life that I’m able to say “ I don’t like them”— they have really had to go out of their way to get me to that point. My crazy next-door neighbor, my Trump loving former colleague, that sort of thing.

Expand full comment
Maltnothops's avatar

Double down AND change the subject.

Expand full comment
Joan the Dork's avatar

Also couldn't help noticing that question 26 is phrased so as to blame the Civil War on Lincoln.

Expand full comment
Boreal's avatar

Sadly, most of the children in Oklahoma are destined for lives of hardship thanks to their ignorant parents who support this nonsense. Some will manage to escape and flee this state that is ranked dead last in education.

Expand full comment
Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

I don't know who wrote the questions but 5 and 6 are (self own ?).

They may not intended it that way but 5 can be understood as positive for transgender youth, it the accurate treatment is given in a timely fashion, a trans girl or boy will not develop the traits that don't belong to their gender.

And 6, if a liberal teacher must leave his political opinions at the door, then a conservative or bigot one too.

Let's talk of the Constitutional part of the test. I couldn't take either, I refuse to give informations even false to ScamU and the second one is not accessible for Europeans. I took from memory and apart for the question 20 (John Adams ?), I am sure I have the right answer for all of them. I wonder how many it would be for falters.

Expand full comment
Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

“If a liberal teacher has to leave their opinions then conservatives will too”, that’s not how this works dear. This is fascism, rules don’t work fairly under fascism. It’s “rules for thee, not for me.” The constitution is moot when the checks and balances are corrupted.

Expand full comment
Chris Titchmarsh's avatar

Fascism is not bothering to put the tariffs to Congress, even when they would say yes straight away.

It is showing contempt for due process. That is the chief aim. Win, win for Putin. The USA consumers get shafted and the threads holding everything together get weakened further.

Expand full comment
Joe King's avatar

"And 6, if a liberal teacher must leave his political opinions at the door, then a conservative or bigot one too."

But, but, it's only liberal teachers that have political opinions, conservative bigots just have Truth (tm). /s

Expand full comment
Maltnothops's avatar

OT and a bit early but to avoid another dammit barry situation: Going on first retirement trip starting next Monday. Azore Islands. Won’t be posting here for 8-9 days.

Expand full comment
Boreal's avatar

Enjoy, on my bucket list.

Think about scrubbing your phone before going. The Gestapo loves phone data.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/07/02/border-control-agents-search-social-media/84423064007/

Expand full comment
Maltnothops's avatar

No. Flying. 4 days each on 2 different islands.

Expand full comment
Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Bon voyage.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

Or "Boa viagem," in this case.

Expand full comment
it's an uncivil war's avatar

This is a solution looking for a problem. Very few teachers are moving to Oklahoma from a "woke" state.

Expand full comment
Maltnothops's avatar

And this isn’t even a solution.

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

No, it is not. It's a bunch of religious shucking and jiving, PRETENDING to be a solution.

Expand full comment
ericc's avatar

And it's not even a problem when they do.

It's just right-wing virtue signaling. It gets votes to hate on libs, so Walters is hating on libs to get votes.

Expand full comment