Oklahoma Senate Bill SB2

Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Schools; requiring certain schools and institutions to disseminate certain Thanksgiving proclamations. Effective date. Emergency.

Impact

The bill is set to reshape how educational institutions engage with historical content, mandating that schools facilitate discussions around Thanksgiving through the reading, printing, and emailing of these proclamations. By integrating these historical texts into the curriculum, the bill is likely to enhance students' understanding of national traditions and the heritage surrounding Thanksgiving. The implications for state laws include a requirement for all specified educational entities to comply with the directive as part of their instructional responsibilities.

Summary

Senate Bill 2 aims to require certain educational institutions in Oklahoma, including public schools, charter schools, and institutions of higher education, to disseminate historical proclamations related to the Thanksgiving holiday. Specifically, the bill designates several notable proclamations to be shared with students during the days leading up to the holiday. These proclamations include declarations from figures like George Washington and Franklin D. Roosevelt, intending to promote historical awareness and appreciation of Thanksgiving's significance in American history.

Contention

While the bill aims to cultivate a sense of national history, it may face opposition regarding the enforcement of what is taught in educational settings. Critics might argue that mandating the dissemination of specific proclamations could infringe on curricular autonomy and promote a narrow interpretation of historical events. This could invite debates about which histories are prioritized in schools and the implications of promoting certain narratives over a broader educational approach.