Articles
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Higher Education
Higher education is a mission–not an excuse
The mission of public education is to create an educated public, a people capable of self-government. Really, this means two different kinds of education.Trent England | March 1, 2017
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Criminal Justice
Oklahoma’s prison crisis: Working towards a solution
Last month in these pages, we explored the enormous cost of Oklahoma’s state prison system and the extraordinary growth in new prisoners that will require adding more prisons in the next two years.Jonathan Small & Trent England | March 1, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Should the government tax soda?
Worrisome trends in the prevalence of obesity and type II diabetes have raised questions about the role of the federal and state governments in regulating the healthfulness of consumers’ diets.Jayson Lusk | March 1, 2017
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Higher Education
Is illiberal education a public good?
Oklahomans agree that liberal education—education that helps people grow as rational beings who know truth—is a public good.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | March 1, 2017
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Budget & Tax
A look at the state budget
With the legislative session underway, the debate over the State budget begins heating up. In order to get some perspective, we look back at recent State spending.Curtis Shelton | February 27, 2017
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Education
Leaders React to Oklahoma Senator’s ‘Truly Shocking’ Mengele Comparison
Senator Ron Sharp invoked Nazi officer Josef Mengele when criticizing school choice legislation being considered by the committee.Jay Chilton | February 24, 2017
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Education
To get to the national average, Oklahoma higher ed needs to shed 13,680 non-instructional workers
Oklahoma’s higher education system employs 2.5 non-instructional workers per 100 private sector workers, which is a whopping 70 percent higher than the national average and the 5th highest level in the country for 2015.J. Scott Moody & Wendy Warcholik, Ph.D. | February 23, 2017
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Education
Educators, Policymakers Decry ‘Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations’
All children learn differently. The cookie-cutter approach to the public school system does not provide for that.Jay Chilton | February 21, 2017
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Education
ESA Bill Passes Education Committee: Q&A with State Sen. Rob Standridge
State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, sat down with CIJ following a meeting of the Oklahoma Senate Education Committee on Monday where his Education Savings Account bill, SB 560, passed by a one-vote marginJay Chilton | February 21, 2017
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Budget & Tax
First steps on the road to balancing Oklahoma’s state budget without increasing taxes on working Oklahomans
In order to help close the budget gap for Oklahoma’s state government, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs proposes the following 13 ideas.Jonathan Small | February 21, 2017