“Oklahoma to remain 50th in education?” That’s the vibe after the state’s schools chief announced that teacher applicants from New York and California must pass an “ideology” exam to guard against “radical leftist ideology.” Supporters call it safeguarding values; critics call it a loyalty test—and a recruitment killer. Here’s the math no one disputes: there’s a nationwide teacher shortage, and Oklahoma isn’t exactly poaching talent from higher-paying states. Why would a veteran educator trade coastal salaries and pensions for lower pay and an extra political hurdle? The optics don’t help. After months of headline-chasing culture-war directives—like religious display mandates—plus a widely publicized office-screen controversy, this feels less like protecting classrooms and more like policing viewpoints. First Amendment red flags, anyone? If you truly want better schools, you raise pay, reduce paperwork, support teachers, and build trust. You don’t build gates and call them guardrails. So will Oklahoma double down on tests and theatrics—or finally compete for talent? Because at this rate, the only thing climbing faster than the rhetoric is the state’s difficulty hiring the educators kids deserve.