Although House leadership this session quashed bills that sought to outlaw texting while driving, proponents of the legislation tried again last week. No go. An amendment that would have limited the ban to school zones, work zones and intersections failed, too. Faring better was a plan to let teachers and other school personnel arm themselves […]
teachers
Posted inNews
‘Local control’ in education
The same could be said about use of the term “local control” in relation to education policy. An appeal to “local control” is thrown around at the state Capitol nearly every time education legislation is proposed. Over the last few years, I have worked with other legislators to improve our state’s anti-bullying statute. But efforts […]
Posted inNews
Gunning for freedom
Credit: Brad Gregg Turns out, the thought of a sweet kindergarten teacher suddenly morphing into Kindergarten Cop isn’t such a realistic prospect after all. The decision comes at the recommendation of the Oklahoma Commission on School Safety, a group of law enforcement officers, mental health officials, teachers, parents and first responders. Their opposition, of course, […]
Posted inNews
Guns, guns, guns!
Credit: Brad Gregg Classes already have plenty of books and backpacks. What schools really need are more guns. McCullough’s resolution: Strap teachers and principals with firepower. After all, this is Oklahoma, where no politician has ever been hurt by making sweet, sweet love to the Second Amendment. Three days after the Dec. 14 tragedy, McCullough […]
Posted inNews
Be true to your schools
Comtech owner Michael Morrison, who founded the Team Up OKC drive four years ago, said it’s possible that this year’s campaign exceeded last year’s efforts, which raised more than $100,000 in supplies. “Our community cares about the children in our schools and wants them to have the supplies they need to be successful,” Morrison said. […]
Posted inNews
Getting schooled
Justin Harlan Established in 1990 as a member of AmeriCorps, the organization places teachers, who commit to two years of service, in low-income areas. Now it has more than 9,300 corps members teaching more than 600,000 students nationwide. Henson Adams, who just finished his first year with the program, said he believes it has made […]
Posted inNews
Free-range education
Credit: Brad Gregg Beginning this fall, students kindergarten through 12th grade will have the opportunity to take a class or two online, or never enter a school building at all. Sheli McAdoo, out-going executive director of the district’s secondary education and reform, said she is optimistic about the future of the new program. “We’ll use […]
Posted inNews
Faulty testing
Sen. Fred Jordan points to external conditions and states that “[many people] … are not test takers…” Norman schools Superintendent Joe Siano points to the new Common Core standards about to be implemented, implying that they might result in lower passing rates. However, these same tests will be used as over one-third of the evaluation […]
Posted inNews
LETTERS
‘An unforgivable breach’ Being raised mostly in Oklahoma in the ’50s and ’60s, my parents and teachers taught me that even when I disagree with someone’s ideas, it does not give me the right to be disrespectful to them and, above all else, never disrespect the office of an elected leader. As a result, you […]
Posted inNews
LETTERS
‘An unforgivable breach’ Being raised mostly in Oklahoma in the ’50s and ’60s, my parents and teachers taught me that even when I disagree with someone’s ideas, it does not give me the right to be disrespectful to them and, above all else, never disrespect the office of an elected leader. As a result, you […]