The year is 2015: There are people still debating whether we should teach our own students about our nation's history.

In Oklahoma, House Bill 1380, which you can totally read here, has been introduced by Republican state representative Dan Fisher. The bill states, "Schools; directing the State Board of Education to adopt a certain United States History program and assessment; prohibiting the expenditure of funds on the Advanced Placement United States History course; effective date; emergency."

TL;DR: This bill would call for the cutting of funding to AP US History courses in the state of Oklahoma.

The rationale? According to the Tulsa World, Fisher claims "the AP U.S. history course framework emphasizes "what is bad about America." For contrast, here is a rendition of an awesome America:

The news that there are blemishes on the face of our fine nation surely comes as a shock to many, but this is precisely why we need courses like AP U.S. History in the first place. I think American exceptionalism -- the notion that America is basically a unicorn/is super distinct from other nations -- is problematic. We're a nation dealing with more than blemishes -- we're dealing with scars: of racism, sexism and ever-growing levels of income inequality.

The bill has already passed in an 11 to 4 vote within an education committee. As someone who took (and loved) AP U.S. History in high school, and was a history major in college, I recommend reading Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States." It was the first book I read in my AP U.S. History class in 10th grade, and it's an unfiltered, unadulterated perspective on American history that deserves to be in the hands of every student, no matter how old they are. You can buy it here.

I still have a few choice words about this. Hopefully you do too. Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

[Update: After "public and official outcry," KRMG in Tulsa, Oklahoma reported on Feb. 20 that Rep. Dan Fisher says he will re-write House Bill 1380.]