Ryan Walters

[[File:Ryan Walters (Oklahoma Superintendent).png|thumb|right|165px|Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters speaking to the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce in September 2023.]]
{{politics}}
'''Ryan Walters''' {{lived|May 25, 1985}} is an [[American]] politician and "educator" currently serving as [[Oklahoma]]'s State School Superintendent since 2023. Before that, he served as Oklahoma's Secretary of Education for three years, from 2020 to 2023.

Walters is arguably one of the worst things to ever happen to Oklahoma, and given the [[Jim Inhofe|litany]] [[Mary Fallin|of]] [[Scott Pruitt|godawful]] [[Kevin Stitt|politicians]] that Oklahoma has produced, that is ''really saying something''. A dyed-in-the-wool [[conservative]] [[Christian]], Walters has been described as Oklahoma's "top [[Culture war|culture warrior]]"<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ryan-walters-oklahoma-schools-superintendent-tulsa-rcna101235 How Oklahoma’s schools superintendent became the state’s top culture warrior] by Tyler Kingkade (Aug. 23, 2023, 6:01 AM PDT), ''NBC News''</ref> due to his raging [[homophobia]] and [[transphobia]] and his opposition to [[critical race theory]], among other things. His anti-[[LGBT]] rhetoric and policies led to the death of [[non-binary]] high school student Nex Benedict, following severe head injuries from a group of girls at Owasso High School on February 7, 2024.<ref name="Nex">[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nex-benedict-oklahoma-ossawa-non-binary-b2500209.html Nex Benedict: Non-binary student who died after Oklahoma bathroom assault was a ‘shining light’] by Bevan Hurley (February 21, 2024), ''The Independent''</ref>

==Early career and Secretary of Education==
Walters had the benefit of being buddies with current Oklahoma Governor [[Kevin Stitt]] a few years before he was elected to office (like Stitt, Walters is the son of a pastor.) 

Prior to officially joining Stitt's administration, Walters was a U.S. History teacher at McAlester High School, and later became the executive director and CEO of Every Kid Counts Oklahoma (formerly known as Oklahoma Achieves), a non-profit education advocacy group whose donors include national school [[privatization]] and [[Charter education|charter school]] advocates, including the Walton Family Foundation, the primary charitable outlet of the heirs to [[Walmart]] founder Sam Walton, and an education group founded by [[Charles Koch]].<ref>[https://oklahomawatch.org/2023/01/08/ryan-walters-steps-down-from-nonprofit-role-that-drew-scrutiny/ Ryan Walters Steps Down From Nonprofit Role That Drew Scrutiny] by Reese Gorman, Clifton Adcock and Jennifer Palmer (January 8, 2023), ''Oklahoma Watch''.</ref> He retained this position while serving as Secretary of Education and stepped down from this position shortly before being inaugurated as state superintendent.

==Becoming state superintendent==
After getting the stamp of approval from both Stitt and [[Ted Cruz]],<ref>[https://okcfox.com/news/local/ted-cruz-endorses-ryan-walters-ryan-is-a-tireless-advocate-for-students Ted Cruz endorses Ryan Walters: 'Ryan is a tireless advocate for students'] by Kevin Severin (June 10th, 2022), ''OKC Fox 25''</ref> Walters beat out four other [[GOP]] candidates in the primaries to earn the Republican nomination for State Superintendent,<ref>[https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2022/08/24/oklahoma-runoff-election-results-state-superintendent-schools-ryan-walters-april-grace/65413551007/ Ryan Walters wins GOP nomination for Oklahoma state schools superintendent over April Grace] by Nuria Martinez-Keel (August 23, 2022), ''The Oklahoman''</ref> going on to defeat the [[Democratic Party]]'s nominee, Jena Nelson, in the general election,<ref>[https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/ryan-walters-wins-high-profile-race-for-state-superintendent/article_5663d9d0-5ecb-11ed-bc1c-77128ee1a4ad.html Ryan Walters wins high-profile race for state superintendent], by Andrea Eger, ''Tulsa World''.</ref> thus plunging Oklahoma into a what can only be described as a disaster at best and a nightmare at worst.

===Critical race theory===
As stated above, Walters has pushed back on idea of critical race theory being taught in Oklahoma [[public schools]], though there's no evidence that it ever was.<ref>[https://stateimpact.npr.org/oklahoma/2022/09/08/faq-what-we-know-about-teaching-since-oklahomas-so-called-critical-race-theory-ban-went-into-effect/ FAQ: What we know about teaching since Oklahoma’s so-called critical race theory ban went into effect] by Robby Korth (September 8, 2022 | 6:00 am) ''State Impact Oklahoma, NPR''.</ref> In an op-ed he wrote for ''The Hill'' in 2023, he described CRT as "[[racist]]" and "anti-American", and that it "poisons young minds."<ref>[https://thehill.com/opinion/education/4121091-teach-truth-not-racism-to-the-next-generation-of-americans/ Teach truth, not racism, to the next generation of Americans] by Ryan Walters (July 31, 2023), ''The Hill''.</ref>

In a spectacular display of [[denialism]] at a town hall in July 2023, he stated that the [[Tulsa Race Massacre]] "shouldn't be tied to skin color".<ref>[https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/hear-and-read-ryan-walters-full-remarks-about-the-tulsa-race-massacre/ Hear and read Ryan Walters’ full remarks about the Tulsa Race Massacre] by Brianna Bailey (July 7, 2023), ''The Frontier''.</ref>

===PragerU===
In September 2023, Walters announced that the Oklahoma Department of Education would be partnering with [[PragerU]] to produce curriculum content for Oklahoma schools, following [[Florida]] in that regard.<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4188167-oklahoma-follows-florida-in-allowing-prageru-in-schools/ Oklahoma follows Florida in allowing PragerU in schools] by Lexi Lonas (September 5, 2023), ''The Hill''</ref> 

The idea of PragerU influencing education policy on the state level is actually quite terrifying. Thankfully, quite a few schools have openly stated that they won't be using any PragerU curricula any time soon.<ref>[https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oklahoma-schools-decline-to-use-controversial-prageru-curriculum-despite-endorsement-from-supt-walters/ar-AA1goU0v Oklahoma schools decline to use controversial PragerU curriculum despite endorsement from Supt. Walters] by Payton May, ''MSN''</ref>

===Other positions===
*Walters believes that the U.S. Department of Education should be eliminated, as stated at a [[Moms for Liberty]] (listed as an [[extremist]] group by the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]]) summit that also included [[Nikki Haley]] in Philadelphia in June 2023.<ref>[https://kfor.com/news/local/ok-supt-walters-to-speak-at-moms-for-liberty-conference/ ‘I’m proud to be fighting alongside them’: OK Supt. Walters to speak at Moms For Liberty conference] by Kaylee Douglas (Jun 29, 2023), ''KFOR''</ref> He's also against teachers' [[Trade union|unions]].
*He is [[anti-abortion]].<ref name="Positions">[https://ballotpedia.org/Ryan_Walters Ryan Walters], ''Ballotpedia''</ref> 
*He is a self-described "[[Gun nut|staunch supporter of the Second Amendment]]" and is a supporter of the [[NRA]] [[propaganda]] of "good guy with a gun".<ref name="Positions"/><ref>[https://www.americanprogress.org/article/debunking-the-guns-make-us-safer-myth/ Debunking the ‘Guns Make Us Safer’ Myth: Despite arguments from the gun lobby and its allies, guns used for self-defense are not common, beneficial for society, or efficient in deterring mass shootings or criminal victimization.] ''The Center for American Progress''.</ref>
*He is against "illegal immigration" and has voiced support for former president [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Great Wall of America|border wall]].<ref name="Positions"></ref>
*He supports displaying the [[Ten Commandments]] in every classroom.<ref>[https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2023/06/22/ryan-walters-oklahoma-ten-commandments-western-culture-education-prayer/70346495007/ Ryan Walters calls for Ten Commandments in every classroom, promotion of 'Western culture'] by Ben Felder (June 23, 2023), ''The Oklahoman''.</ref>
*He hates [[atheists]].<ref>[https://thelostogle.com/2023/11/29/ryan-walters-takes-holy-aim-at-radical-atheists Ryan Walters Takes Holy Aim at ‘Radical Atheists’] by Patrick Ogle (November 29, 2023), ''The Lost Ogle''.</ref>

===The death of Nex Benedict===
Among Walters' anti-LGBT policies is preventing students from changing the designation of their gender or sex in school records.<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4489793-nex-benedict-death-oklahoma-schools-nonbinary/ Nex Benedict’s death shines spotlight on Oklahoma schools] by Lexi Lonas (February 26, 2024), ''The Hill''.</ref>

Easily the worst thing that Walters has done so far has been to appoint [[Chaya Raichik]]&nbsp;— better known as the woman behind the [[Libs of TikTok]] [[Twitter]] account&nbsp;— to a statewide library advisory board.<ref>[https://www.fox23.com/news/state-supt-ryan-walters-appoints-woman-behind-libs-of-tiktok-to-osde-s-library-media/article_7d8eabb6-ba64-11ee-b8a7-db4e5f9447cc.html State Supt. Ryan Walters appoints woman behind ‘Libs of TikTok’ to OSDE’s Library Media Advisory Committee] by FOX23 News Staff (January 23, 2024), ''FOX23 News''.</ref> Raichik's posts on Twitter, often consist of transphobic propaganda and edited videos targeting school teachers and librarians, have been directly linked to transphobic and homophobic threats, violence, and attempted [[terrorist]] attacks. Incidents include bomb threats against a school in [[Wisconsin]], a near-riot at [[Idaho]] Pride, and threats against a [[Jewish]] summer camp.<ref name="nehorai1">Elad Nehorai, "[https://forward.com/opinion/515868/libs-of-tiktok-is-fueling-a-pogrom-against-trans-youth/ Libs of TikTok is fueling a pogrom against trans youth]", ''Forward'', 29 August 2022</ref> 

Walters' decision resulted in protests from [[Democrats]] and [[Republicans]] alike, as well as from a number of parents, educators, and lawmakers who believe Raichik endangered students and teachers.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/libs-tiktok-fueled-bomb-threats-193440004.html Libs of TikTok Fueled Bomb Threats at Oklahoma Schools. The Superintendent Just Hired Her] by Nikki McCann Ramirez (January 23, 2024), ''Yahoo News''</ref>

Nex Benedict was a 16-year-old [[non-binary]] student who was a sophomore at Owasso High School<ref name="Nex"></ref> and had been enduring [[bullying]] from their peers at school due to their [[gender identity]]. On February 7, 2024, six students entered a girl's bathroom, and, according to Nex, "jumped" them to the point where Nex lost consciousness.<ref>[https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/02/23/oklahoma-teen-dies-nex-benedict-owasso-police-bodycam-footage-of-interview/72719139007/ Owasso police release bodycam footage of Nex Benedict interview: ‘I got jumped’] by Oklahoman Staff (February 23, 2024), ''The Oklahoman''.</ref>

The following day, Nex collapsed at home while preparing for an appointment. Nex's mother, Sue Benedict, called 911 and said that Nex's eyes had rolled back and they were struggling to breathe. Nex had stopped breathing by the time emergency medical technicians arrived, and was declared dead at the hospital that evening.<ref name="Banned">[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nex-benedict-dead-oklahoma-b2501844.html Oklahoma banned trans students from bathrooms. Now Nex Benedict is dead after a fight at school] by Bevan Hurley (February 20, 2024), ''The Independent''.</ref>

Walters and Raichik have rightfully been blamed for the death of Nex Benedict, as the anti-LGBT rhetoric pushed by both of them opened the door for Nex to be targeted.<ref name="Banned"></ref> In response, Walters showed everyone just how much of an [[asshole]] he is by having the gall to ''defend'' Oklahoma's anti-LGBT policies in a February 23 interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'', regarding Benedict's death, saying: "There's not multiple genders. There's two. That's how [[God]] created us." Walters also said, "I think it's terrible that we've had some radical leftists who decided to run with a political agenda and try to weave a narrative that hasn't been true" and "You've taken a tragedy, and you've had some folks try to exploit it for political gain."<ref>[https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/02/24/oklahoma-superintendent-of-education-ryan-walters-nex-benedict/ Oklahoma education chief claims Nex Benedict’s death being ‘exploited’ by ‘radical leftists’] by Chantelle Billson (February 24, 2024), ''PinkNews''.</ref><ref>[https://www.advocate.com/news/ryan-walters-rejects-trans-nonbinary After Nex Benedict's death, Oklahoma's Ryan Walters: Just two genders, as God intended] by Trudy Ring (February 23, 2024), ''The Advocate''.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walters, Ryan}}
[[Category:Alt-lite]]
[[Category:Anti-abortion activists]]
[[Category:Anti-LGBT bigots]]
[[Category:Atheophobia]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Culture wars]]
[[Category:Denialists]]
[[Category:Educators]]
[[Category:Far-right politics]]
[[Category:Gun nuts]]
[[Category:Homophobes]]
[[Category:Kochsphere]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Right-wing activists]]
[[Category:Transphobes]]

Categories: Alt-lite, Anti-abortion activists, Anti-LGBT bigots, Atheophobia, Christians, Culture wars, Denialists, Educators, Far-right politics, Gun nuts, Homophobes, Kochsphere, Racists, Right-wing activists, Transphobes