OKLAHOMA CITY – Assistant House Democratic Leader Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa said the review of the Oklahoma State Board of Education monthly meeting today left her disappointed at how far we have fallen at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
“Our schools are home to people of all races, classes, belief systems – you name it. Learning to exist and work alongside one another despite our differences is a key part of preparing our children for the real world of work and community.
To today’s comments about prayer in schools – students and teachers have always had the protected right of prayer and worship in our schools. What is not allowed is a teacher guiding and instructing around that prayer – that responsibility remains in the rightful hands of the parents. Oklahoma law protects that right. Mr. Walters would be wise to remember that.
Mr. Walters seems confused. He labors under a false impression of what happens in a school building on any given day.His infatuation with pornography has made far too many uncomfortable, and his actions suggest he is beholden to deep national pockets beyond our Oklahoma borders. It’s time we look closer, digging into what is behind the theatrics. Did he misappropriate federal GEER dollars? Why has he not advocated for federal education grant funding our state traditionally pursues? What will the fallout be for the vital, federally funded programs within our schools?
I have spent the last week helping my neighbors here in Tulsa dig out of the massive damage caused by one of the most serious storms Tulsa has seen in years. That is who we are. Democrats, Republicans, Independents.Progressives, conservatives, moderates.All of us are pitching in, helping one another, and doing what needs to be done.It has reminded me of who we really are, at the root.We are Oklahomans. Politics aside, we stand up for one another.All of us.No one man will change that,” Rep. Provenzano said.
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