OU prof: Take responsibility for educating your children

"The way to reclaim America is through patient diligence," University of Oklahoma professor David Deming writes in The Washington Times.

First, have children. Demography is destiny. Second, don’t abandon your children to the public schools. Take the responsibility for educating them. Third, teach children why the United States is both unique and exceptional. With his new series of children’s books, Rush Limbaugh is showing the way.

OKC school district, city reach deal for police officer patrols at elementary schools

The Oklahoman has the story.

Former Commerce teacher charged with second-degree rape

The Tulsa World has the story.

Separation of school and state!

We need to let educators do their job, Democratic state superintendent candidate Ivan Holmes is on record saying, "and keep government and outside interest groups out of our schools."

Now I had every intention of voting Republican in November, but if this guy really wants to get rid of compulsory attendance laws, slash my income and property taxes, and basically privatize the whole enchilada, I might have to give him a serious look.

School-produced illiteracy still not acceptable

"After voting in 2011 to prevent social promotion of third-grade students who read at only a first-grade level (if that), state lawmakers did a 180 this year and acted to allow functionally illiterate students to advance to fourth grade," The Oklahoman notes today. But even though "the retention mandate is gone, schools still have a mandate to teach all children to read regardless of social or economic status. Policymakers must hold them accountable."

Comparing public schools to private

Patrick J. Wolf says the Lubienskis’ conclusions rely on a flawed research design.

Ed in the sand

A few days ago the superintendent at Tulsa Union took to the pages of the Tulsa World to assure Oklahomans that "our public schools are doing great work," adding with emphasis: "Our education system is not broken!"

Whereupon it struck me that I need to create a new label—let's call it "Ed in the Sand"—and chronicle various statements of this sort when they come along. Here are some others from years past:

"Education hasn't failed, except maybe in a few overcrowded, underfunded urban districts."

—Sand Springs superintendent Lloyd Snow

"I feel that our public schools are doing a great job in educating our students."      

—Oklahoma state Sen. Richard Lerblance (D-Hartshorne)

"They are using our Governor and Superintendent to carry their water in an attempt to convince parent's [sic] that public schools are bad."                                                                          

—Ivan Holmes, Democratic candidate for state superintendent

"It is simply not true."                                                                                                        

—Jason James, assistant superintendent in Clinton, on the suggestion that "public schools are failing"

Police investigate shot fired by Tulsa Public Schools officer at elementary school

FOX 23 has the story.

'Oklahoma's serious literacy problems'

Hats off to the Tulsa World's Andrea Eger for taking a look.

Nelson plans to offer parent trigger bill in 2015

Anna Giaritelli has the story in the May issue of School Reform News.

Innovative online public charter school to open this fall

Insight School of Oklahoma will provide new digital learning options for students.

'Expanding the education universe'

It's not just school choice anymore. It's course choice.

Homeschooling family sends their seven kids to college ...

... by age 12.