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The Daily Signal

State Schools Chief Seeks Answers on District’s Reported Ties to Chinese Government

The Daily Signal

The Daily Signal

Politics, Government, Daily News, News

4.81.4K Ratings

🗓️ 8 August 2023

⏱️ 21 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Parents Defending Education’s new report, “Little Red Classrooms,” offers some worrisome information about China’s reach in U.S. K-12 schools through so-called Confucius Classrooms. The report notes that Parents Defending Education “uncovered contracts that show Confucius Classrooms, or other Chinese government-backed programming, are still in operation” in a number of schools throughout the U.S., including Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma.  “On July 11, 2022, the Tulsa Public Schools board of education approved entering into an agreement with the Confucius Classroom Coordination Offices, which [operate] out of the International Leadership of Texas Global nonprofit,” the report says. “The Chinese International Education Foundation would cover the cost of the program. Carver Middle School offers students a ‘Confucius Connection’ through its ‘Global Awareness’ programming.” Ryan Walters, Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction, says, “What we did is, we — immediately upon finding this out — we have required the district to turn over any contracts, any curriculum, anything that’s been handed out through this course.” “So, we are actively compiling that from the district right now to do a deep dive into, ‘Hey, what was the Chinese government trying to get in this classroom? What were the teachers discussing in these classes?'” Walters says, adding: So that’s what we’ve required of the district right now. So, we are going to be looking for that information to have a better understanding of what was being funneled into these classrooms.Walters joins today’s episode of “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the Parents Defending Education report, whether he has spoken with any teachers, parents, or students at Tulsa’s Carver Middle School, and Tulsa Public Schools’ response to his Twitter video, “China will not be allowed in Oklahoma schools.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

What you've seen here is the Chinese Communist government started funneling

0:05.3

money into our universities and schools over a decade ago and what it is is

0:10.4

it is a way to undermine American heritage, undermine American institutions.

0:14.9

This is the Daily Signal podcast for Tuesday, August 8th. I'm Samantha

0:25.6

Cheris and that was Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters. Just recently

0:31.6

parents defending education released a report that offers some unsettling

0:36.2

information about the reach of the people's Republic of China and US K-12

0:41.6

schools through so-called Confucius classrooms. Tulsa Public Schools in

0:46.4

Oklahoma was identified in the report. Last week Ryan posted a video to Twitter

0:52.3

with a caption, China will not be allowed in Oklahoma schools and he joins us

0:57.8

today to discuss what is going on, what's reportedly being taught and much more.

1:02.9

We'll get to my interview with Ryan right after this. The Heritage Foundation is

1:08.3

the most effective conservative policy organization in the country. Every

1:12.8

semester our interns are a vital part of that mission. We pay

1:16.9

competitively, we develop talent and we give our interns access to some of the

1:21.7

sharpest minds in the country. We're going on offense, so join us. To learn more

1:27.4

about the young leaders program here at the Heritage Foundation, please go to

1:31.4

Heritage.org slash intern. Ryan Walters is joining today's episode of the

1:37.6

Daily Signal podcast. Ryan is the Oklahoma State Superintendent and previously

1:42.2

served as the Oklahoma Education Secretary. Ryan, thanks so much for joining us.

1:46.5

Absolutely thanks for having me on. Now just recently parents defending

1:51.3

education, which describes itself as a national grassroots organization

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