EDITORIAL: Teachers should teach about movie

Muskogee Phoenix, Okla.
·2 min read

Oct. 28—Oklahoma educators should not have to be concerned about whether teaching the history behind a blockbuster movie could land them in trouble with the law.

Teachers are concerned they could lose their jobs if they teach the history behind "Killers of the Flower Moon." The recently released movie depicts the 1920s murders of Osage tribal members after oil was found on their land.

House Bill 1775 forbids curriculum taught in Oklahoma schools that could make students uncomfortable regarding race. Oklahoma officials should make it clear that teachers can teach students about the murders because it is a part of our state's history.

Teachers should be allowed to teach the truth of our state — the good and the bad — because we should never be afraid of the truth.

This movie will be around for a long time. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. It was directed by Martin Scorsese. That kind of star power alone will ensure this movie will get seen by many Oklahomans. The fact that some of the movie was filmed in Oklahoma also will attract Oklahomans to the movie screen.

Students will see this movie — either now or some point down the road. It is important for teachers to help students understand the full context of the murders as opposed to a theatrical account.

This movie also will help with Oklahoma's tourism efforts. People will visit Fairfax.

This movie will help Oklahoma's reputation as a place to make movies. It will help Oklahoma upgrade the state's relationship with the movie industry.

The state of Oklahoma also provided some taxpayer assistance to help the movie get filmed here. If state government has no problem with the movie being filmed here, then state government should have no problem with the history behind the movie being taught here.

You can't say the facts behind the story of the movie are too traumatic for students to hear or teachers to teach if you applauded the movie being made here.

Oklahoma officials need to reassure teachers that "Killers of the Flower Moon" is not off-limits.