OKLAHOMA'S MAD MAGA MONK'S PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST CHINESE CRITICAL RACE THEORY

OKLAHOMA'S MAD MAGA MONK'S PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST CHINESE CRITICAL RACE THEORY 

In a recent hearing, Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, also known as the Mad Maga Monk of Oklahoma Education, spoke on behalf of the Koch Network and made some bold claims about Chinese influence in American schools. According to Walters, the Chinese government is actively running or ruining schools in the US, using a program called Confucius Classrooms as a front organization to spread communism. Walters went on to say that the Koch Network is totally different because they only spread fascism, not evil communism. He emphasized that they don't want anything in their schools that doesn't spread white Christian nationalism culture.

The Mad Monk claimed that he was only doing a preemptive strike on Chinese critical race theory. However, it seems like he was parroting the Koch Network front group Parents Defending Education's talking points almost verbatim. Walters demanded that nothing be taught in Oklahoma but MAGA culture and history.

The Confucius Classroom Program is a Chinese government initiative that promotes Chinese language and culture around the world. The program provides funding to schools and other institutions to establish Confucius Classrooms, which offer Chinese language and culture classes to students of all ages. The CCP has been controversial, with some critics arguing that it promotes Chinese propaganda and nationalism.

But let's be real here, the Mad Monk's claims are just plain ridiculous. The idea that the Chinese government is secretly infiltrating American schools to spread communism is straight out of a bad spy movie. And the idea that the Koch Network is any better because they only spread fascism is just laughable.

It's clear that the Mad Monk and his allies at Parents Defending Education are just trying to stir up controversy and push their own agenda. They want to ban anything that doesn't fit their narrow worldview, even if it means denying students the opportunity to learn about other cultures and perspectives.

But let's not forget that there are plenty of programs sponsored by the US government that promote language and culture learning in other countries. These programs are designed to foster cross-cultural understanding and friendship, not to spread propaganda or undermine other countries.

So let's all take a deep breath and remember that learning about other cultures and perspectives is a good thing. It helps us to understand and appreciate the world around us, and it makes us better global citizens. And if the Mad Monk and his allies can't see that, well, maybe they need to go back to school themselves.

Big Education Ape: OKLA SSPI RYAN WALTERS SAYS TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE LINKED TO CHINESE COMMUNIST https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/08/okla-sspi-ryan-walters-say-tulsa-public.html

'The Chinese Government Set Up In Schools To Spread Communism': Walters Testifies To US House Committee https://www.news9.com/story/650a0932b0c882040053f29f/the-chinese-government-set-up-in-schools-to-spread-communism:-walters-testifies-to-us-house-committee 

Little Red Classrooms - Parents Defending Education https://defendinged.org/investigations/little-red-classrooms-china-infiltration-of-american-k-12-schools/

'The Chinese Government Set Up In Schools To Spread Communism': Walters Testifies To US House Committee https://www.newson6.com/story/650a0932b0c882040053f29f/the-chinese-government-set-up-in-schools-to-spread-communism:-walters-testifies-to-us-house-committee 

THE DEFT DIVE

FROM BARD AI (UPDATED)

The Confucius Classroom Program (CCP) is a Chinese government initiative to promote Chinese language and culture around the world. It was established in 2004 by the Hanban, an affiliate of the Chinese Ministry of Education.

The CCP provides funding to schools and other institutions to establish Confucius Classrooms, which offer Chinese language and culture classes to students of all ages. Confucius Classrooms are typically staffed by Chinese teachers and offer a variety of courses, including Chinese language, Chinese culture, Chinese history, and Chinese art.

The CCP has been controversial, with some critics arguing that it is a form of Chinese soft power and that it promotes Chinese propaganda. However, supporters of the CCP argue that it is a valuable program that provides students with the opportunity to learn about Chinese language and culture.

**Deep Dive**

• The CCP has grown rapidly since its inception. In 2004, there were only 100 Confucius Classrooms worldwide. By 2023, there were over 5,000 Confucius Classrooms in over 150 countries.
• The CCP is funded by the Chinese government and by tuition fees from students. In 2018, the Chinese government spent $1.5 billion on the CCP.
• The CCP is administered by the Hanban, which is an affiliate of the Chinese Ministry of Education. The Hanban provides funding and support to Confucius Classrooms around the world.
• The CCP is staffed by Chinese teachers who are typically sent to Confucius Classrooms by the Chinese government. These teachers are responsible for teaching Chinese language and culture classes to students.
• Confucius Classrooms offer a variety of courses, including Chinese language, Chinese culture, Chinese history, and Chinese art. Some Confucius Classrooms also offer courses on Chinese business and economics.
• Confucius Classrooms are typically located in schools, universities, and cultural centers. They are open to students of all ages and backgrounds.

**Controversy**

• The CCP has been controversial since its inception. Some critics argue that it is a form of Chinese soft power and that it promotes Chinese propaganda. These critics point to the fact that the CCP is funded by the Chinese government and that Chinese teachers are typically sent to Confucius Classrooms by the Chinese government.
• Critics also argue that the CCP is used by the Chinese government to promote its own values and interests. For example, some Confucius Classrooms have been accused of promoting Chinese nationalism and of censoring information about China's human rights record.
• Supporters of the CCP argue that it is a valuable program that provides students with the opportunity to learn about Chinese language and culture. They argue that the CCP is not a form of Chinese propaganda and that it does not promote Chinese nationalism.
• Supporters of the CCP also argue that the CCP is important for promoting mutual understanding between China and the rest of the world. They argue that the CCP helps to build bridges between China and other countries and that it promotes cultural exchange.

**Conclusion**

• The CCP is a complex and controversial program. It is important to be aware of the potential risks and benefits of the CCP before deciding whether or not to participate in the program.
• If you are considering participating in the CCP, it is important to do your research and to choose a Confucius Classroom that is reputable and that offers a high-quality curriculum. It is also important to be aware of the potential for Chinese government interference in the CCP.
• If you are a student who is considering taking classes at a Confucius Classroom, it is important to be critical of the information that you are presented with. It is also important to be aware of the potential for censorship and to seek out information from a variety of sources.

FROM BING AI

The Confucius Classroom program is a global initiative that aims to promote Chinese language and culture in foreign primary and secondary schools. The program is sponsored by the Chinese government and affiliated with the Confucius Institute, which operates in universities and colleges around the world. The program provides funding, resources, teachers, and curriculum support to local schools that want to offer Chinese language and culture courses to their students. The program also facilitates cultural exchanges and sister school relationships between schools in China and other countries.

The Confucius Classroom program has been praised for its benefits in enhancing students' intercultural competence, global awareness, and career opportunities. Some of the benefits of the program are:

• - It offers students a chance to learn one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, which can open up new possibilities for communication, travel, and work.
• - It exposes students to the rich and diverse aspects of Chinese culture, such as history, literature, art, music, philosophy, and traditions.
• - It fosters students' curiosity and appreciation for other cultures and perspectives, which can help them develop critical thinking and empathy skills.
• - It encourages students to participate in various activities and events that showcase their learning achievements and celebrate cultural diversity.
• - It connects students with peers and teachers from different backgrounds and countries, which can enhance their cross-cultural understanding and friendship.

However, the Confucius Classroom program has also been criticized for its controversies in terms of its influence, transparency, and academic freedom. Some of the controversies of the program are:

• - It is seen as a tool of soft power by the Chinese government, which aims to shape the perceptions and opinions of foreign audiences in favor of China's interests and values.
• - It is accused of censoring or omitting topics that are sensitive or critical of the Chinese government, such as human rights, democracy, Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong.
• - It is suspected of interfering with the academic autonomy and integrity of the host institutions, by imposing restrictions on hiring, curriculum, research, and events.
• - It is alleged of spying on or influencing students, teachers, and administrators who are involved in the program or who express views that are contrary to the Chinese government's stance.
• The Confucius Classroom program is a complex and controversial phenomenon that has both positive and negative impacts on education and society. It is important for students, teachers, parents, and policymakers to be aware of the benefits and challenges of the program, and to make informed decisions based on evidence and dialogue. 

Bing, 9/19/2023

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• (10) Confucius Institutes in the United States: Selected Issues - CRS Reports. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11180.
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• (15) undefined. https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-are-confucius-institutes-and-do-they-teach-chinese-propaganda-114274.

Yes, the U.S. government offers various programs that aim to promote language and culture learning in countries outside the U.S. Some of these programs are:

• - The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program, which provides overseas foreign language instruction and cultural immersion experiences for American undergraduate and graduate students in fifteen critical need languages².
• - The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) programs, which offer full scholarships for American high school students to study abroad on cultural and educational exchange programs³.
• - The Office of English Language Programs (ELP), which designs and manages programs to support the teaching of English in countries around the world through local American Embassies and Consulates⁴.

These programs are part of the U.S. government's initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to our national security and prosperity, as well as to foster cross-cultural understanding and friendship.

 Bing, 9/19/2023

• (1) Critical Language Scholarship Program | Exchange Programs. https://exchanges.state.gov/cls.
• (2) Program: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/other-federal-programs/dos.html.
• (3) Office of English Language Programs | Bureau of Educational and .... https://eca.state.gov/about-bureau/organizational-structure/office-english-language-programs.
• (4) All Language Programs | Critical Languages. https://studyabroad.state.gov/languages/all-programs.

Parents Defending Education (PDE) is a right-leaning organization that opposes the teaching of critical race theory and related left-progressive ideology in K-12 public schools¹. According to its website, PDE was founded in 2021 by Nicole Neily, a former executive director of the Koch-backed Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity².

PDE does not disclose its donors, but some of its funding sources have been revealed by investigative reports and public records. According to a commentary by the Portland Press Herald, PDE raised almost $3.2 million in 2021, and some of its major donors were⁵:

• - Donors Trust, a dark money operation associated with the Koch network, donated more than $20,000.
• - The Achelis & Bodman Foundation, which funds voucher and charter school programs and targets public education, contributed $25,000.
• - Searle Freedom Trust, another right-wing donor with ties to Donors Trust, contributed $250,000.

Another report by Mass Politics Profs found that PDE has connections to other Koch-backed groups, such as the Independent Women's Forum and the State Policy Network⁸. PDE also shares staff and board members with these groups, such as Asra Nomani, who is a senior fellow at the Independent Women's Forum and a board member of PDE⁸.

PDE is part of a larger network of conservative groups that are carrying out a campaign to ban books from school libraries, often focused on works that address race, LGBTQ issues or marginalized communities⁷. Some of these groups include Moms for Liberty, No Left Turn in Education, and the National School Choice Week. These groups are often linked to deep-pocketed rightwing donors, such as the DeVos family, the Walton family, and the Bradley Foundation⁷⁹.

PDE has also filed racism complaints with the U.S. Department of Education against several school districts that have supposedly admitted to engaging in “systemic racism”¹. PDE claims that such admissions violate the 1964 Civil Rights Act and make the districts ineligible for federal funds¹. PDE also opposes masking policies, remote learning, and evidence-based curricula that it dislikes¹.

PDE provides parents with step-by-step guides to ask questions of school board members and school administrators and instructs them on writing op-eds and on how to talk to the media¹. It also provides templates for parents to file Freedom of Information Act requests, a guide to parents’ rights, organizing strategies, and talking points¹. PDE says its goal is to “empower, expose and engage” parents to combat critical race theory and other indoctrination in schools¹. The organization’s website includes an “IndoctriNation Map,” allowing parents to look up school districts and “learn about parents organizations, incidents and FOIAs”¹.

Bing, 9/19/2023

• (1) Many “Parent” Groups Opposing Masks and CRT Are Actually ... - Truthout. https://truthout.org/articles/many-parent-groups-opposing-masks-and-crt-are-actually-driven-by-dark-money/.
• (2) Parents Defending Education - InfluenceWatch. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/parents-defending-education/.
• (3) Commentary: Parents Defending Education is not at all what it says it is. https://www.pressherald.com/2023/01/18/commentary-parents-defending-education-has-a-lot-of-explaining-to-do/.
• (4) Koch Connections and Sham Grassroots of Parents Defending Education. https://www.masspoliticsprofs.org/2021/04/12/koch-connections-and-sham-grassroots-of-parents-defending-education/.
• (5) US conservatives linked to rich donors wage campaign to ban books from .... https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/24/us-conservatives-campaign-books-ban-schools.
• (6) undefined. https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/who-behind-attacks-educators-and-public-schools.
• (7) Parents Defending Education Action. https://actionpde.org/.
• (8) undefined. https://defendinged.org/.
• (9) . https://bing.com/search?q=Parents+Defending+Education+donors.