Homeschooling in Oklahoma nearly tripled during the government lockdown

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that, nationwide, homeschooling doubled between the spring of 2020 and the fall of 2020. In Oklahoma, it nearly tripled—from 7.7 percent of households to 20.1 percent. (Importantly, Census says this is “true homeschooling” rather than simply “virtual learning through a public or private school.”)

Oklahoma pastors and the oppressed

"Some pastors in Oklahoma are insisting that Christian faithfulness requires us to oppose school choice policies," Greg Forster points out in a new article. 

"How do they justify identifying Christian faithfulness with defending a school monopoly that destroys children’s lives in order to line the pockets of special interests?" Dr. Forster asks. "How do some churches go so terribly wrong that they identify the oppressors as the oppressed, and thus defend in God’s name a system of power that oppresses the poor?"

To find out, read the whole thing here. There are roughly 126 of these pastors in Oklahoma, including the following.

Rev. Lori Walke is the senior pastor of Mayflower Congregational Church in Oklahoma City. She has presided over the same-sex “marriage” ceremonies of more than 100 couples.

Rev. Clark Frailey, recipient of last year's OEA Friend of Education Award, is the lead pastor of Coffee Creek Church in Edmond. He recently praised the work of atheists, feminists, LGBTQ activists, and others trying to make sure more children don’t attend Christian schools.

To see the complete list of pastors, click here. It's alarming, Dr. Forster wrote of these pastors in 2018, "when religious leaders make themselves tools of secular selfishness in the name of, yet to the detriment of, better schools for kids."

Oklahoma scholarship program helps deaf and hard-of-hearing children

"For Melissa Harnden, finding a school where her daughter, Hadley, could thrive and be around children with similar needs was a dream come true," our friends at the Opportunity Scholarship Fund (OSF) report. "We are so glad they found success at Happy Hands Education Center. OSF is grateful to provide tax-credit scholarships to families needing a specialized environment for their child. Learn more about our accredited member schools here.

School choice as prophetic justice

Greg Forster marvels that some Oklahoma pastors defend a school monopoly that often destroys children’s lives in order to line the pockets of greedy, politically connected special interests.

Put parents in charge with a universal ESA

"Education is child-rearing, and it belongs to parents," Greg Forster writes. "Putting parents in charge of education through universal Education Savings Accounts is the best way to help schools cope with the challenges of the Covid crisis in a way that will actually deliver the best possible education."

Norman schools: Equity means some groups get more

Norman public school teachers are instructed they should "teach about sexism, poverty, racism, ableism, transphobia, and heterosexism."

Civics legislation a Trojan horse for state-sanctioned racism?

"Proposed federal legislation to support increased civics and history instruction in K-12 schools may well be a Trojan horse to introduce even more radical social justice and critical race theory indoctrination for children," Mike Brake reports.

Educators say Oklahoma public schools are deeply racist

"In a recent Twitter chat, numerous Oklahoma educators said the state’s public schools are 'steeped' in racism with one administrator vowing to make controversial 'antiracism' training mandatory for all staff," Ray Carter reports.

Oklahoma school-choice programs save money

A new report from EdChoice (“The Fiscal Effects of Private K-12 Education Choice Programs in the United States”) finds that Oklahoma's tax-credit scholarship program saved about $12.5 million to $32.6 million since its inception through FY-2018, which is about $2,000 to $5,200 in savings per scholarship student. 

Oklahoma's private-school voucher program saved about $12.6 million to $22 million since its inception through FY-2018, which is about $4,700 to $8,300 in savings per scholarship student.

School choice: The best criminal justice reform

"We hear a lot about the 'school-to-prison pipeline,' political scientist Greg Forster writes. "School choice is literally the only policy with a proven track record of doing something about it. It’s time for criminal-justice reformers to put up or shut up."

Activists outline their plan to push Black Lives Matter in the classroom

You may recall that the Oklahoma City Public Schools superintendent is promising to create school clubs that will be Black Lives Matter chapters. Sadly, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

"Although many Americans support the phrase 'black lives matter,' the actual aims of organizations and activists committed to this cause often are far more radical than what Americans hear through the lens of the media," writes Jarrett Stepman.

"It’s deeply important that we know what the agenda truly is. A new book, Black Lives Matter at School, lays out how the entire system of K-12 education in America could be transformed to carry out the agenda of the Black Lives Matter movement."

Former Oologah coach indicted for making sexual comments to multiple girls

"A former Oologah high school girls’ basketball coach is out on bond after being arrested Friday, accused of making sexual comments to several young girls while he still worked at the school," the News on 6 reports.

OSDE is at it again

 Directing people to a discredited hate group.