Something interesting about the book... So, much for freedom that the right keeps claiming they are all about...
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Is an Oklahoma Story, but Educators There Might Not Teach It
Three years ago, Oklahoma teacher Debra Thoreson requested copies of a book about the century-old murders of Osage people that took place about an hour from where her school is now.
But she changed her plan to assign the book, “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” to her high school English students after
passage of a state law that she feared could endanger her license and her school’s accreditation.
The 2021 law, one of several passed by states in recent years that placed greater curbs on classroom content, bars teaching students that they “should feel” psychological distress on account of their race or gender—or be held responsible for past actions by members of their race or gender.
In recent days, the law has come under specific fire in advance of the release of Martin Scorsese’s film “
Killers of the Flower Moon,” which hit theaters nationwide Friday and is based on the book by David Grann that Thoreson wanted to use in her classroom.
Supporters of the law, known as HB 1775, say it prohibits teachers from intentionally trying to make students feel anxiety or guilt, but doesn’t prevent educators from teaching history such as that depicted in the film.
Critics of HB 1775, however, have said that it is too vague and has resulted in a chilling effect on teachers. The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations filed a lawsuit in 2021 on behalf of students and teachers challenging the law, arguing it was unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth amendments. The lawsuit is pending.
The movie, which is about the century-old murders of Osage people, has prompted renewed discussion of a 2021 law that placed greater curbs on classroom content.
www.wsj.com
