<
https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/state-aims-to-revoke-license-of-teacher-over-books/article_4631e58b-8e4e-5677-b5aa-74df4c17641d.html>
'OKLAHOMA CITY — A former Norman Public Schools teacher may have her teaching
license stripped for encouraging her students to visit a link that offers
students free access to a Brooklyn Public Library card.
The state Department of Education said Summer Boismier's action violates
Oklahoma teaching standards by "promoting explicit sexual materials to minors,"
and by providing "unlawful racist instruction" in such a way that it violates
the rules enacted under a new state law that proponents say prohibits the
teaching of "critical race theory." The agency has initiated legal proceedings
to revoke her license to teach in Oklahoma.
The complaint alleges that by encouraging her students to visit the website,
Boismier willfully encouraged her students to access 21 "books at issue" that
are accessible via ebook or audiobook through the library's Books Unbanned
program. Many of the "books at issue" that the State Department of Education
lists are more contemporary ones with LGBTQ or racial injustice themes, but its
list also includes well-known literary classics like "To Kill a Mockingbird"
and "Of Mice and Men," according to the complaint.
In a statement posted on social media, Boismier wrote that she's "bemused" to
see the education department "commit so completely to a work of fiction,
especially as the new 'leadership' imposes a walnut-sized worldview on public
education."
Boismier first drew Republican ire last year when she covered her classroom
bookshelves in red bulletin board paper with messages written in black marker
in response to new district classroom library book protocols.
The complaint alleges Boismier wrote "Books the state doesn't want you to read"
and "Definitely don't scan me" with an arrow pointing to the QR code to obtain
a free Brooklyn Public Library card.
Her display generated a parental complaint and ignited a firestorm of national
controversy. Some Oklahoma Republican lawmakers called for her teaching license
to be investigated or revoked. State Superintendent Ryan Walters accused her of
providing "access to banned and pornographic material," although she did not
provide access to any specific book, only to a library. Norman Public Schools
has also previously said it has no districtwide bans.'
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
