House Bill 1775 Takes Effect

Oklahoma House Bill 1775 goes into effect Thursday. The bill restricts the teaching of some aspects of race and gender in schools and colleges.

This bill in part bans the teaching that one race or gender is superior over the other and that any topic that could make a student uncomfortable should not be discussed in a classroom.

Controversial House Bill 1775 was introduced by Representative Kevin West (R)-Moore earlier this year and passed in May, but officially is implemented today.

The bill bans the teaching that “a person, by virtue of race or sex, bears responsibility for any actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.” It goes on to mention the ban of teachings that cause students any “discomfort, guilt, anguish or psychological distress” due to their race or sex.

The bill also makes all diversity and gender training voluntary at the college level. No courses on those topics will be mandatory in the college’s curriculum.

West said the bill aligns with the Oklahoma Academic Standard while others like representative Monroe Nichols oppose the bill, saying this initiative buries history like the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Many of the educators and parents that spoke with News On 6 said they hope the teachers will continue to educate their students about the things that are difficult to hear because that is how growth begins.