Police investigating child pornography sent between Bethany students

"Police have launched a child pornography investigation involving Bethany Public Schools students who admitted to allegedly sending and receiving nude photos of one another," KFOR reports.

Two teens arrested after gun found at Capitol Hill High School

The Oklahoman has the story.

Ponca City student accused of rape after sex tape released on social media

News 9 has the story.

Setting the record straight on choice

"A couple of college instructors from the University of Oklahoma and Cameron University recently published two pages of emotive bullet points, unsubstantiated bumper-sticker assertions, shoddy reasoning, and deceptive characterizations of the empirical research," Greg Forster writes.

The scourge of school-district fraud

"In recent years, a series of scandals have made it clear that, along with traditional fiscal and labor pressures, school districts around the country face rampant fraud by their own employees," Jonathan Butcher writes. "Given its scope and significance, such fraud should be a much more prominent concern, and the fight against it should be front and center in contract negotiations, school-board elections, and education politics."

‘If you knew some of the teachers at my school, you would not feel safe with them carrying guns around’

"Dozens of high school and college students gathered along the south side of the Oklahoma State Capitol on Saturday to demand gun reform and an end to gun violence in the state and across the country," The Oklahoman reports.

A student at Putnam City West High School, Carissa Corcoran, 18, of Oklahoma City, came to the rally with her girlfriend and her girlfriend’s sister in an effort to have their voices heard. ... While she said she didn’t know anyone who had been a victim of gun violence, Corcoran said the threat is very real, especially since there have been multiple instances of people bringing guns to school in the Putnam City School District this year.

“We go on lockdown often. It can happen anywhere to anyone,” she said. When asked how she felt about those who call for teachers to be armed in schools in an effort to prevent shootings, she said it was a bad idea. “If you knew some of the teachers at my school, you would not feel safe with them carrying guns around,” she said.

Edmond parents report abuse in schools

Ray Carter has the story.

Felony charges filed against former Edmond teacher

"Four criminal felony charges were filed recently against former Edmond Santa Fe teacher Charles David Heaverin, 52," The Edmond Sun reports.

Edmond Police arrested Heaverin Dec. 17 for allegedly soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology. According to the District Court docket, Heaverin is charged with:

• Using technology to engage in communications for sexual or prurient interest with a minor child; 

• Procuring or causing participation of a minor under the age of 18 years in photographs depicting sexual activity; 

• Sexual battery; and 

• Using technology to engage in communications for sexual or prurient interest with a minor.

‘A pervasive and perverted problem’

NonDoc editor in chief Tres Savage has a good editorial today about "a pervasive and perverted problem," namely, "the shocking number of Oklahoma educators who have been caught in sexual relationships with students." Read the whole thing here.

Coleman teacher pleads guilty to rape of student

"A Johnston County teacher pleaded guilty to having sex with a student," KXII reports.

"You don't really expect it. Especially in small towns, but it is happening more and more," said a Coleman High School graduate. He wanted to remain anonymous to protect his job. He said this isn't the first time this has happened in this town.

Bullied Oklahoma student researched suicide

"An Oklahoma mother is looking to change to how schools approach bullying after she says her daughter was bullied for months before she had to pull her out of school," KJRH reports.

Nicole Fleming's daughter Madi was a sixth grader at Central High Public Schools in Stephens County. Nicole says Madi was bullied for months before finally pulling her out two weeks ago. "When we found her Google history on her phone, which was how to commit suicide successfully, that was the end of it for me," Fleming said. "We were not going to send her back to that school."

Oklahoma student warns: 'Our planet is dying. This is time to panic'

1/ An estimated 1 million young people in 128 countries skipped school Friday to demand stronger climate policies in what may be one of the largest environmental protests in history. https://t.co/d05RCAplaf #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/njSwAWsg1i

— Vox (@voxdotcom) March 15, 2019

"It is very important that strikes and marches take place in fossil-fuel producing areas of the country, like Oklahoma," says Oklahoma high school senior Luke Kerr. "We are showing the rest of the country that we can fight for climate."

“This is not a rally,” says student Max Salcido. “This is a strike.” As The Oklahoman reports ("Students gather at Oklahoma State Capitol to plead for action on climate change"):

Part of an international movement of students, Salcido addressed the crowd demanding they speak up about the impacts of climate change. ... Across the nation, thousands of students left their classrooms on Friday to call for swift action to prevent or mitigate the effects of human-caused global warming and climate change. ... 

“It’s important to me because the deadline is approaching where things become catastrophic,” said Salcido, 18, who helped organize the event in Oklahoma. “Experts think in 11 to 15 years, things will be irreparable. I won’t even be 45 years old. That barely gives me the time to have a family, get a home or live the life that others have been privileged to (do).” ... 

At the demonstration, speakers gave action plans for how best to combat climate change and demands they wanted of the government in a possible “New Green Deal.” ... Fellow organizer Rebecca Yanez, 19, believes addressing climate change with progressive, sweeping ideas could help stem the tide and prevent potential disaster. “I’ve been raised with the mentality that if you see something wrong you have to do something about it,” Yanez said. “I’m a first-generation American, and I believe that the youth is going to be able to change the country for the better.” 

Salcido was cheered on as she urged middle school, high school, and college students to get proactive. Telling them to call their representatives and demand action. “Normal can only go on if we act normal,” she told the crowd. “Our planet is dying. This is time to panic.”

In other news, here are some other hysterical environmentalist claims that didn't pan out.

Fairfax parents upset after chunks of hair removed in drug testing

The News on 6 has the story.

Sapulpa teacher charged with lewd molestation

"Police say a teacher in Sapulpa is charged with lewd molestation after at least two students accused him of groping them," the News on 6 reports. "Police said he’d been grooming two girls for quite some time."

Oklahoma report cards ‘an utter disgrace’

"What does it say that Oklahoma's supposedly improved A-F school report cards grade schools on a curve?" The Oklahoman's editorial board asks today. "While there are now fewer A schools, many previously F-graded schools are apparently inflated out of the bottom category."

As my colleague Trent England observes: "Oklahoma school grades now not only set lower standards for schools with more minority students ... they also grade on a curve. In other words, it's not about excellence, just about being a little better than the building down the street. What an utter disgrace."

Former Deer Creek teacher, coach pleads guilty

"A former Deer Creek teacher and assistant basketball coach was sentenced to prison Wednesday following his arrest in a child sex sting," The Oklahoman reports.

Moore student arrested after being found with loaded handgun at school

"A student was found Wednesday morning with a loaded gun at Moore High School," KOCO reports.

Officers received a report that there was an odor of marijuana emitting from a restroom. They responded and found a student possibly involved. Officials said they had reason to believe the student in question was smoking marijuana. Officers searched the student’s bag and found a loaded handgun that turned out to be stolen. The student, a juvenile, was arrested.

Former Putnam City employee accused of child sex abuse

"A former attendance secretary for Putnam City Schools has been arrested for having an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old male student," News 9 reports. The former employee "was arrested on several counts of rape in the second degree and lewd acts with a child, according to investigators."

Oklahoma octogenarian headed back to prison after new sex offense

"Repeat sex offender Bobby Otto Powers is headed back to prison, almost nine years after being released early because corrections officials concluded he was dying," The Oklahoman reports.

The retired schoolteacher first went to prison in 2005 to serve a 60-year sentence for child molestation. He served less than five. ... By 2017, Powers had become a regular at Hustler Hollywood, which sells adult novelty items and lingerie. He visited two to three times a week, spending most of his time looking over the pornographic movies, according to testimony at his trial.

‘Take that s**t off!’

"An Oklahoma high school senior was caught on video Monday harassing and bullying a fellow student over his support for President Donald Trump," Dave Urbanski reports. "The video shows the aggressor preventing the other student—who's wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat—from passing through an Edmond Santa Fe High School hallway."

The parents of the bullied student told KFOR: "We are deeply disturbed by the actions of the other student and have met with the Edmond City Attorney and are proceeding with municipal assault and battery charges. We are proud that our son has and will continue to show his patriotism, love for his country, and support for the president of the United States of America, Donald Trump."

Nineteen OKC schools receive 'F' on new report cards

"Zero students at two elementary schools in the Oklahoma City district who took state tests are prepared for the next grade, course or level, according to a new school accountability system launched by the state Education Department on Thursday," The Oklahoman reports.

Former Bixby teacher charged with sexual battery

We're told that four-day school weeks are bad for Oklahoma's reputation, but it seems to me that repeated international headlines like this are even worse.

How to teach children to deal with bullying

"More than half of all teenagers in America today see bullying as a major problem among their peers, according to a new survey by Pew Research," Joe Carter writes for The Gospel Coalition. "Teens were more likely to rank bullying as a problem than poverty, drug addiction, or drinking alcohol. Only anxiety and depression—problems that bullying contributes to—ranked higher in the survey."

Duncan parents of special-needs children allege abuse

Duncan Public Schools superintendent Melonie Hau is heading out the door, KFOR reports.

Wednesday night the school board held a meeting to discuss the next steps after her departure. In the audience were parents and children with signs demanding a change in culture at the school. ... 

"The water got a little too hot for her and it's going to keep on getting hotter," said mother Tiffany Hartfield. Hartfield previously told News 4 that her son, living with a number of conditions, was neglected by Duncan Public Schools. Now, she says she has an attorney and plans to take legal action against the district. 

She was one of many parents present, holding signs before the board that read things like "Stop the Abuse Now." The board did not address the crowd, nor did they take public comment. "I want somebody to know how they're making these kids feel," said Mona Presswood, crying as she held her granddaughter. 

A mother that now lives in California released surveillance video of her child, allegedly dragged by school personnel. She is also taking legal action against the district. She tells News 4 her daughter is still in a body brace a year after the incident. 

Another mother, Elizabeth Scott, said she's glad the superintendent is leaving because she hopes it will start a change from the top-down. She said her daughter, who has epilepsy, once got off a school bus slurring her speech and stumbling. She shared pictures with us that show scratches on the child's arm and abrasions to her forehead.
"She said that the teacher's aide in her class grabbed her arm and twisted it, causing her to hit her head on the board," said Scott. 

She refused to return her child to that teacher and said the school's resolution was to put her back in preschool. "She’s going to be a year behind, she’s going to be almost 7-years-old when she goes back to kindergarten for the second time," Scott said. "I feel like my daughter is being punished because she got hurt, but I had to keep her safe, whatever that took." 

She mentioned her concern for a number of students in special needs classes with her daughter who are nonverbal, unable to tell their parents anything that may happen in the classroom. "There are so many kids in these classes that can’t talk and it's just terrifying to think of what's happening." 

Presswood said that over the course of at least two years, her granddaughter would be yelled at and handled with physical aggression by teachers and a principal. She said it had damaging mental effects on the child. 

"She said 'there were just days that I just wish I wasn’t alive anymore, it would just be so much easier if I wasn't alive," she said. "At no time should any child feel like they’re not good enough or not want to be alive, it's ridiculous."

Oklahoma students with disabilities are eligible to receive a private-school voucher.