For the first time since his swearing-in, KOCO 5 heard from Oklahoma’s new state superintendent.Former Secretary of Education Ryan Walters will now head the state’s Education Department. What Walters said on Wednesday wasn’t much different from what he said during his campaign.His primary goal is to combat woke ideology in schools and empower parents. KOCO 5 asked Walters if he has heard more from parents, and if parents are telling him about the state of education in Oklahoma.”I’m getting messages, emails, everything from parents at every hour, and what I’m hearing from parents is they want indoctrination out of their schools. They continue to talk about examples of critical race theory in their schools. They continue to talk about this radical transgender education that’s been put in schools,” Walters said.The superintendent did not go into specifics about the reports and claims of CRT and transgender education but still argues it is happening in Oklahoma. KOCO 5 asked if he worries it will leave a bad taste in the mouths of parents or teachers who want to come to Oklahoma. “So, what we’ve seen here is the people who’ve brought politics to education are radical leftists. What we have seen in education is something unique in our nation’s history,” Walters said.Also, a priority for the superintendent is to find ways to bring a school choice system to Oklahoma where students would have the ability to attend schools outside their local district.”Every single parent in the state of Oklahoma should have the full freedom to choose their kids’ education. I’m not going to rest until every parent in every corner of the state has that power,” Walters said. KOCO 5 asked what he would tell lawmakers, Republican or Democrat, as well as their constituents, who fear that expanding school choice or a voucher program will kill smaller, rural schools.”I would say that’s ridiculous. That’s a lie perpetuated by radical Democrats in our state and radical woke teachers’ union they have lied about this repeatedly. The reality is, we need to empower parents,” Walters said.The first Board of Education meeting headed by Walters, which is always held at the Education Department, is set for Thursday, Jan. 26.
For the first time since his swearing-in, KOCO 5 heard from Oklahoma’s new state superintendent.
Former Secretary of Education Ryan Walters will now head the state’s Education Department. What Walters said on Wednesday wasn’t much different from what he said during his campaign.
His primary goal is to combat woke ideology in schools and empower parents.
KOCO 5 asked Walters if he has heard more from parents, and if parents are telling him about the state of education in Oklahoma.
“I’m getting messages, emails, everything from parents at every hour, and what I’m hearing from parents is they want indoctrination out of their schools. They continue to talk about examples of critical race theory in their schools. They continue to talk about this radical transgender education that’s been put in schools,” Walters said.
The superintendent did not go into specifics about the reports and claims of CRT and transgender education but still argues it is happening in Oklahoma. KOCO 5 asked if he worries it will leave a bad taste in the mouths of parents or teachers who want to come to Oklahoma.
“So, what we’ve seen here is the people who’ve brought politics to education are radical leftists. What we have seen in education is something unique in our nation’s history,” Walters said.
Also, a priority for the superintendent is to find ways to bring a school choice system to Oklahoma where students would have the ability to attend schools outside their local district.
“Every single parent in the state of Oklahoma should have the full freedom to choose their kids’ education. I’m not going to rest until every parent in every corner of the state has that power,” Walters said.
KOCO 5 asked what he would tell lawmakers, Republican or Democrat, as well as their constituents, who fear that expanding school choice or a voucher program will kill smaller, rural schools.
“I would say that’s ridiculous. That’s a lie perpetuated by radical Democrats in our state and radical woke teachers’ union they have lied about this repeatedly. The reality is, we need to empower parents,” Walters said.
The first Board of Education meeting headed by Walters, which is always held at the Education Department, is set for Thursday, Jan. 26.
