Small: “Woke” trend not inevitable in Oklahoma schools

“Woke” trend not inevitable in Oklahoma schools

By Jonathan Small

National and state headlines may lead Oklahoma parents to fear “woke” indoctrination in public schools is inevitable and cannot be stopped. That’s not the case.

Indeed, actions taken in recent years are already bearing fruit.

A 2021 law, HB 1775, banned classroom instruction or staff training that advocates that “an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.” Thanks to that law, State Board of Education was recently able to penalize both Tulsa Public Schools and the Mustang district for violating the anti-Critical Race Theory law.

Flashback: Frix's $2k lobbyist-paid trip to National Popular Vote conference in NYC

State Rep. Avery Frix, running against former State Sen. Josh Brecheen in the 2nd Congressional District's GOP runoff, is keen to remind voters of Brecheen's greatest (single?) blemish from eight years ago in the state legislature, when Brecheen cast an ill-advised (and swiftly recanted) vote in support of a National Popular Vote compact bill authored by a fellow Republican.

Frix doesn't want voters to remember the time - just four years ago - after Donald Trump's 2016 election, that he took a lobbyist-paid junket to New York City for a National Popular Vote conference.

Does anybody remember this?

(In NYC on the IRPE-paid trip. L-R: Rep. Avery Frix, Rep. McDugle's then-mistress, Rep. Baker's husband, Rep. Kevin McDugle, Rep. Rhonda Baker)

In mid-December 2017, three Republican state representatives (among them being Avery Frix) took a trip to New York City to attend a conference put on by the Institute for Research on Presidential Elections. The group spent a little over $2,000 on Avery Frix. The purpose of the junket was to learn about the IRPE's efforts to change how we elect the President from the Electoral College system to a national popular vote.

Runoff Poll: Mullin and Walters lead big, Brecheen and Frix nearly tied

Tulsa's News On 6 and Oklahoma City's News 9 partnered with SoonerPoll to survey the Republican runoff elections for U.S. Senate, State Superintendent, and 2nd Congressional District. Here are the topline results:

Lucas, colleagues call on USDA to disclose foreign purchase of US farmland

I don't normally post press release about congressional letters, but this one I think rises to a level of importance. The purchase of American farmland by hostile entities such as Communist Chinese-connected individuals and corporations is something that must be stopped.

Lucas, Colleagues Call on USDA to Disclose Foreign Purchase of U.S. Farmland

Cheyenne, OK – Recently, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) joined Representatives Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting information about USDA’s process for compiling data and reporting on foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural land. Foreign ownership of domestic agricultural land has risen sharply in recent years, with Chinese land holdings alone increasing from 13,720 acres to 352,140 acres between 2010 and 2020.

Gov. Stitt celebrates historic state savings balance of $2.8 billion

While I understand the wisdom of having some savings put back for the state... nearly three billion dollars (over a quarter of the annual budget) seems a bit much. That is money which has been wrung from the taxpayer. How about giving some of it back?

GOVERNOR STITT ACHIEVES HISTORIC STATE SAVINGS OF $2.8 BILLION

Stitt surpasses state savings target of $2.3 billion

OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug 3, 2022) – Governor Kevin Stitt achieved a historic $2.8 billion in state savings with the close of FY 2022. Under Governor Stitt’s strict fiscal management, Oklahoma has seen 3 years of historic General Revenue Funds collections and unprecedented state savings growth.

Election Board: Libertarians draw top listing for November ballot, first post-election audit completed

Here's some news from the Oklahoma State Election Board:

OCPA column: “Project Ocean” lessons can provide clarity

“Project Ocean” lessons can provide clarity

By Jonathan Small

Too often, government officials assess the effectiveness of “economic development” like the guy who brags about winning $100 on a scratch-off ticket after spending $1,000 on the lottery. But this approach ignores the true cost.

Such is the case with corporate welfare as highlighted by the failure of “Project Ocean.” Advanced by officials this year, the project was a nearly $700 million corporate-welfare program. But even lavish subsidies failed to attract Panasonic. We all need to understand why.

State Rep. Conley comments on obscene materials in school libraries

Conley Comments on Obscene Materials in School Libraries

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, this week called on State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister to follow through on the announcement of pornography in Tulsa Public Schools.

"It's not enough to acknowledge the existence of this inappropriate material in the district and call for its removal, follow-through in all Oklahoma schools will be essential for this to be resolved," Conley said. "I want to reiterate that materials such as these are not just in Tulsa Public Schools but in other school libraries throughout the state as well."

I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike completes transition to PlatePay/cashless tolling

I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike completes transition to PlatePay/cashless tolling

(Oklahoma City - July 27th)  As of Wednesday, I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike has fully transitioned to PlatePay/cashless tolling. The final leg of the conversion was completed at the Walters toll plaza Wednesday morning, meaning drivers can now travel along I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike from the Texas state line to Oklahoma City without having to stop to pay a toll.

Walters, Treat, even Hofmeister call for removal of porn from TPS library; TPS Sup't wants them to "knock it off"

The social media activist 'Libs of TikTok' has uncovered sexually explicit and graphic material available for students to access in the Tulsa Public Schools library system. Specifically discovered were the graphic books ‘Gender Queer’ and ‘Flamer’, which depict explicit acts of sodomy.

Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters was the first public official that I'm aware of to speak out against it, but he's been joined now by as varied an assortment as Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat (R) and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister (D).