Category: politics
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Cautiously Optimistic About Iran and United States Relations
I’m cautiously optimistic about Iranian and United States relations in the wake of the July 14th announcement by President Obama of the Iranian Nuclear deal and his hour long press conference yesterday focusing primarily on that accord. We live in the day of 140 character information bites, but I encourage you to fully watch both these…
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Cognitive Dissonance and Segregated Oklahoma Schools
Last Friday was a holiday for students and staff in Yukon Public Schools, where I teach 4th and 5th grade STEM full time. Thanks to Andre Daughty, Friday afternoon I was able to visit three of our local, neighborhood schools in Oklahoma City Public Schools near our house. Prior to Friday, I had visited John Marshall…
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The Number 1 Oklahoma Education Policy Issue: FAIR Taxation of Oil and Gas
Tonight is the eve of another rally on the steps of the Oklahoma State Capitol to support public education. (@OKEDRally) While the talking points and agenda for the rally look good, they do not appear to directly address the number one Oklahoma education policy issue which we all SHOULD be talking about constantly with our elected…
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#WhatIf My Ideas on School Reform Become Reality?
Thanks to Valerie Strauss’ post today on the #whatif Twitter meme responses to Arne Duncan, I realized something surprising and was encouraged to tweet some of the ideas for CONSTRUCTIVE education/school reform that have been marinating in my mind for many months. by stevegarfield First of all, when viewing the lively #whatif twitter stream, I saw…
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Sheldon Whitehouse responds to Jim Inhofe on Climate Change
Sadly, against the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community, our Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe continues to believe and argue that climate change is a liberal conspiracy concocted to trick US voters. This position is false and ridiculous. Last week on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse responded to Senator Inhofe’s…
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Why Oklahoma Needs Joy Not Janet as State Superintendent
Update June 25: Joy Hofmeister won the Republican primary election! The Tulsa World published the video of the June 10th statements by Janet Barresi referenced below, and also posted a transcript. If you are an Oklahoma voter, and especially a registered Republican (since our state doesn’t have open primaries) it is EXTREMELY important that you…
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What We Can Learn from Oklahoma’s Repeal of Common Core
Today as I enjoyed learning and teaching in day two of the first STEM Seeds PD Camp in Yukon, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed House Bill 3399 repealing Common Core State Standards in our public schools. Instead of continuing to implement Common Core Standards, as our schools have been doing (at varying rates) for the…
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Why Edward Snowden’s Disclosures Are Terrifying
I have a personal challenge for you. Take two hours in the next few weeks, and watch both Part 1 (“The Program”) and Part 2 (“Privacy Lost”) of the PBS Frontline special, “United States of Secrets.” The best option is to watch these programs with at least one other person with whom you can discuss…
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Act Today to Encourage Teachers at Crutcho Public School
I feel a lot like a member of the stringed quartet on the Titanic, playing away to soothe remaining passengers as the great ship sank. As I write posts (after school, of course) about my end-of-year student lessons launching water bottle rockets and completing a coordinate grid “orientation challenge” in MinecraftEDU, I’m confronted with multiple…