Oklahoma recently approved teaching the "differences" of the 2020 presidential election, appealing as an open-minded move, but actually spreading political misinformation. The move demonstrates an increasing trend across the state's education system: political agendas replacing facts. It's only one of several contentious developments brewing across the state's education system — and it raises legitimate concerns regarding what actually belongs in a classroom.

The 2020 presidential election was one of the most closely examined in U.S. history. Many court cases were filed challenging the results, but none seemed to hold up due to the lack of evidence. Several recounts and audits in key states confirmed that Joe Biden had won fairly.

Even officials from Donald Trump’s administration confirmed that there was no widespread fraud. Despite all this, Oklahoma is treating these false accusations as teaching material. Instead of encouraging critical thinking, it is teaching students to doubt reality. By choosing to focus on these so-called discrepancies, the state is not promoting truth—it’s giving attention to claims that have already been proven false.

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Ryan Walters, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Oklahoma, who took office in 2023 with major support from far-right political groups, has publicly expressed his full support in teaching these so-called "discrepancies" of the 2020 elections. He advocates that it's for transparency, but critics argue it's really about political influence.

However, this isn't the first time Walters has been the center of controversies, with actions such as pushing the restrictions on teaching about race, gender identity, and sexuality; removing all books with LGBTQ+ themes and discussions on systemic racism; and claiming the inclusion of Christian values in public schools.

But there seems to be a bigger pattern behind these moves: a growing effort to politicize education, turning schools into battlegrounds for beliefs rather than a sanctuary for learning. Even teachers have spoken out, saying they feel silenced, unsure of what they’re "allowed" to teach. And if classrooms are the first place students learn about democracy, shouldn’t they also be the last place where lies about it are allowed to spread?

Young minds are impressionable. Educating them with politically biased falsehoods not only damages their education, but it also damages the state’s reputation. This is no longer about education; it’s now about control. Ultimately, facts are not political, but molding them to become so may be the most pernicious lesson of all. As Charles de Gaulle said, “Politics is too serious a matter to be left to politicians.”