In her state of the state address, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposed a measure to fire college professors accused of indoctrinating students, particularly by promoting what she described as anti-American, historically illiterate woke nonsense.
Sanders, a Republican and former press secretary for Donald Trump, framed the initiative as part of a broader plan to improve the state’s higher education system. However, the specifics of how this proposal would be enforced remain unclear, with no examples of banned topics provided.
Sanders’ comments have been met with significant backlash from civil liberties groups and academic organizations.
Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, condemned the idea as a grossly hypocritical false narrative, arguing it undermines the academic freedom essential to the education system. Democratic Rep. Andrew Collins expressed concerns that such a move could politicize education and limit intellectual diversity.
This proposal follows a broader trend among Republican leaders, including Donald Trump and governors in other states like Florida, Alabama, and Texas, who have targeted higher education programs, especially those focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This rhetoric has been part of a national conversation on what some view as left-wing “indoctrination” in education.
Sanders’ initiative also echoes her earlier actions in 2023 when she signed a bill placing restrictions on how race and sex are taught in Arkansas public schools. These moves align with broader conservative efforts across the U.S. to challenge curricula and diversity programs that they believe are too politically charged.
