Articles
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Education, Agriculture
Politicized teaching feared with ‘climate change’ standards
The inclusion of “climate change” material in Oklahoma’s new science standards for public schools, beginning as early as middle school, has business leaders concerned classrooms could become politicized and schools weaponized against economically foundational industries.Ray Carter | March 6, 2020
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Education
Scholarship program critics do about-face on tax credits
This week many who lambaste the tax-credit scholarship program voted to provide up to $50 million in tax credits to mostly out-of-state film producers, diverting a far greater sum from the state’s general revenue fund. And they supported the film program even though independent research shows its return on investment is a small fraction of the return generated by scholarship tax credits.Ray Carter | March 4, 2020
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Education, Culture & the Family
Alleged assault points up dangers of OEA/NEA ‘gender-neutral’ bathroom push
An 18-year-old student at Rhinelander High School was recently arrested for child enticement, fourth-degree sexual assault, and exposing genitals to a child. The alleged incident occurred in the school’s gender-neutral bathroom.Staff | March 4, 2020
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Education, Culture & the Family
Many Oklahoma teachers, union activists, support Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders, the self-described “democratic socialist” running for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, has long courted Oklahoma teachers. Public records suggest that, for many teachers, the admiration is mutual.Ray Carter | March 2, 2020
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Education, Culture & the Family, Good Government
After Oklahoma Republicans side with OEA, union touts transgender reading program
Two days after six Republican senators joined Democrats to defeat legislation opposed by the Oklahoma Education Association, the union is promoting a national day of school readings on transgender issues.Ray Carter | February 27, 2020
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Education, Law & Principles, Good Government
GOP defectors side with unions
Six Republican senators joined Democrats to defeat legislation that would require routine recertification elections for education unions, providing a victory for a teachers’ union that recently gave failing grades to most of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation.Ray Carter | February 25, 2020
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Education, Culture & the Family
Great-grandmother seeks educational opportunity for at-risk children
Born in 1952, Linda Lewis did not envision being a caretaker for two young children during her golden years. But when her grandson was incarcerated and the mother of her great-grandchildren ran afoul of the Department of Human Services, she became the legal guardian for two of her great-grandchildren.Ray Carter | February 24, 2020
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Education
Teacher union gives ‘F’ grades to Oklahoma delegation
The National Education Association (NEA), whose state affiliate is the largest teachers’ union in Oklahoma, has given F grades to the majority of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation in its Legislative Report Card for the first session of the 116th Congress.Ray Carter | February 21, 2020
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Education
In most states, governor appoints top school official
When Gov. Kevin Stitt proposed a vote of the people to make the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction appointive rather than elective, he was suggesting that Oklahoma join a growing consensus among states that appoint their chief state school official.Mike Brake | February 20, 2020
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Education
Student privacy concerns raised due to bill’s passage
Legislation imposing new reporting mandates on a school-choice program has passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives even though the legislation does not include specific student-privacy protections that ensure compliance with federal law.Ray Carter | February 18, 2020