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When you thought Republicans could not think of something strange to legislate against, think again. Affecting all high school students who are college bound in Oklahoma, the state’s legislative committee approved a bill that would cut funding from the schools that teach Advanced Placement U.S. History. Their bizarre reasoning: the course doesn’t teach “American exceptionalism.” They frame the course as one that focuses on “what is bad about America.”

New York magazine says almost the entire Republican Party has agreed AP courses should be banned for the way the United States is portrayed. For example, Georgia’s state Senate passed a resolution to revise the course framework of AP U.S. History. The state of Georgia believed the course diminished “discussion of America’s Founding Fathers, the principles of the Declaration of Independence, [and] the religious influences on our nation’s history.” Because the College Board did not revise the course, the state cut its funding.

AP courses help students earn college credit once they pass the exam at the end of the school year.

New York also adds, “The exam has also sparked controversy in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Colorado, where students in Jefferson County protested last fall when a school-board member said the course should be modified to promote ‘patriotism’ and discourage ‘civil disorder, social strife, or disregard of the law.'”

Moin Nadeem, a student from Oklahoma launched a petition to urge senators not to  ban AP courses. He wrote on his Change.org petition:

“Oklahoma lawmakers have decided to limit our educational choices. HB 1380 would eliminate funding for Advance Placement (AP) U.S. History, a critical course that prepares kids for college. If the bill becomes law Oklahoma students like myself will be put at a major disadvantage. Even worse, it could be the start of a national trend to eliminate AP courses in other states. When I first heard about the law I thought it was a joke. This year I am taking 5 AP classes. AP U.S. History is one of them. It was a choice I made with my parents. The classes are tough, but deeply rewarding. Why would lawmakers want to take these classes away? I figured the issue would resolve itself. It did not and I decided I had to fight for what was right for my future. Politicians in our state think they can make better choices for our education than we can. Our lawmakers say they want to ban AP U.S. History because they don’t agree with the content. Taking a college level class in high school, working hard to achieve your dreams, should not be controversial.”

Currently Nadeem’s petition has acquired 18,221 signatures.

Do you think AP classes should be banned because Republicans disagree with the way American history is being taught?

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