Students across the state have staged walkouts during instruction hours over the past two weeks to demonstrate their frustration with immigration enforcement in Oklahoma, and some Republican lawmakers want disciplinary measures, including certificate revocation, against educators who may have promoted the rallies.
Fourteen lawmakers signed a letter sent to state schools Superintendent Lindel Fields Thursday, Feb. 12, asking him to take a «public stand against these organized protests and ensure our schools remain focused on education rather than activism.»
Republicans argue the walkouts breach attendance laws, disrupt the learning environment and potentially violate professional educator standards. But Democrats have commended students for their «courage and bravery,» adding that students are allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights.
“I trust our educators that are managing the disruption and fear caused by ICE enforcement actions,» said Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. «Once again, we see selective outrage from Republicans as they cherry-pick issues happening in our public schools.»
Oklahoma lawmakers seek discipline for teachers participating in student walkouts
The letter to Fields was signed by six known members of the far-right Oklahoma Freedom Caucus, including the organization’s chairman Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee; Sen. Julie McIntosh, R-Porter; Sen. Randy Grellner, R-Cushing; Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin; Sen. Kendall Sacchieri, R-Blanchard; and Rep. Jim Shaw, R-Chandler.
The letter was also signed by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond. Pugh serves as the Senate Education Committee’s chairman, meaning most education-related bills must go through him to have a chance of becoming law. He’s also running to become state superintendent of public instruction.
Other lawmakers who signed onto the letter include Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle; Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville; Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant; Sen. Bryan Logan, R-Paden; Sen. Brian Guthrie, R-Bixby; Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow; and Rep. Gabe Woolley, R-Broken Arrow.