BY SHARON MARTIN Dear Oklahoma Legislators who voted against Lauren’s Law [HB 1007] on Mar. 13: whatever makes you think consent will by taught by parents and church leaders? I grew up protected from outside influences by two well-meaning parents, both preachers. We had interesting conversations about politics, culture, science, and religion. We talked books…
BY DAVID PERRYMAN What do low self-esteem, depression, mental health and a high teen pregnancy rate have in common? If your answer was Oklahoma, you are eons ahead of 56 members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. That is the number of men and women who last week voted against HB 1007, which would have…
BY JOHN THOMPSON Even many of the staunchest pro-charter corporate reformers are criticizing virtual charters for their poor outcomes and draining resources from public schools. For instance, Todd Ziebarth of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, criticizes the high rates of “churn” they contribute to, their low graduation rates, and low levels of student…
BY DAVID PERRYMAN In 1907 the people of Oklahoma chose to establish a form of state government in which directors of agencies were chosen to run those agencies based on qualifications. To accomplish this task, agency board members were likewise appointed based on knowledge, experience and qualifications. Like most early 20thCentury Americans, Oklahomans did not…
BY GARY EDMONDSON Childhood vacations saw us visit relatives in Jefferson and Stephens Counties. One such visit likely saved me from the stigma that has attached itself to several politicians lately. We returned from Oklahoma one year just in time to see our hometown of Westfield, IN, put on a minstrel show in the high…
