#Oklahoma Education Association

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

$250M could be diverted from Oklahoma's public funding to private education

House Bill 1935 could relocate nearly 250 million dollars from public funding to private education.

The bill is seeing major opposition.

House Bill 1935 would establish the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act which, Cyndi Munson, House Democratic Leader, said “essentially diverts public taxpayer dollars to pay for private education tuition.”

The bill would take taxpayer dollars and give parents of eligible private school students a $5,000 annual tax credit and a $2,500 tax credit for homeschooled students.

“Anytime that we take money away from our public schools and give it to private schools does a disservice to the 700,000 students that are sitting at desks today at our public schools," Katherine Bishop, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, said.

The OKEA says the bill does not address the state’s education crisis.

“We are in a crisis," Bishop said. "We are in a teacher crisis, a support professional crisis. This bill and that tax credit don’t address bring teachers into the classrooms, retain teachers in the classrooms.”

She said the funds should go to our public schools.

“246 million dollars going into our schools would allow districts to provide resources that our students need, textbooks that our students need, more hands-on activities, but mainly be able to put more personnel into our buildings," Bishop said.

Accountability and financial oversight of this tax credit have been major concerns.

“Letter j, lines 1-3," Munson read. "‘The tax commission shall keep all records relating to the Oklahoma parental choice tax credit act confidential, including but not limited to the social security numbers of eligible students.’”

“I get wanting to protect private information social security numbers, birthdays, all of those things, but if all the information pertaining to the tax credit act is held confidential," Munson said. "How do we know that those taxpayer dollars are being used as the law is written?”

We reached out to the author of the bill, Representative Charles McCall, but he was not available for comment.

The bill passed through the house committee Thursday and is now headed to the House floor for a vote.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

John Whitehouse at MMFA:

On July 9, Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction Ryan Walters announced that a number of people — many of them key figures in right-wing media — would be rewriting the social studies curriculum in the state.

The list includes right-wing hosts with ties to Walters like Steve Deace, Dennis Prager, and Stacy Washington. Also included is Kevin Roberts, the head of The Heritage Foundation, which has organized Project 2025.

Walters announced an “executive review committee” to revise Oklahoma’s social studies curriculum. Members include Dennis Prager, Robert Pondiscio, David Barton, Kevin Roberts, Everett Piper, John Dwyer, David Goodwin, Mark Bauerlein, Steve Deace, and Stacy Washington. [Oklahoma State Department of Education, 7/9/24]

After implementing a mandate that the state’s public schools teach the Bible, Walters claimed that right-wing commentator and pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, who has promised to “embrace Christian nationalism” and previously ran for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma, encouraged him to implement such a policy last year. [Media Matters, 7/8/24]

Walters has approved PragerU Kids — which is widely criticized for pushing right-wing propaganda, such as including distorted histories about slavery in its history lessons — as curriculum for Oklahoma public schools. In one supposedly educational video, for instance, a cartoon version of Fredrick Douglass describes slavery as a “compromise to achieve something great.” [MSNBC, 9/7/23; Media Matters, 9/8/23; NBC, 8/10/23]

Dennis Prager is an anti-LGBTQ pundit who has hosted The Dennis Prager Show since 1999. In 2009, he founded the conservative nonprofit organization PragerU, which publishes short videos on political and international issues.

David Barton is a pseudo-historian and Christian nationalist well-known for spreading the idea that the country was supposed to be a Christian nation. Barton is the founder of WallBuilders.

Kevin Roberts is the president of the Heritage Foundation, the right-wing think tank leading Project 2025.

Steve Deace is a host for BlazeTV who has made many anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ remarks.

Stacy Washington is a commentator, radio host, and Air Force veteran who has appeared in many right-wing outlets. She was formerly a host of a program aired on American Family Radio, the radio arm of extreme anti-LGBTQ group American Family Association, before the network culled much of its programming and its dedicated Urban Family Communications network.

Right-wing indoctrination artist Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Schools Ryan Walters announced that he is having a team rewrite the state’s social studies curriculum, with many of its names right-wing media figures such as Everett Piper, serial history revisionist David Barton, indoctrination mill head Dennis Prager, and pundit Steve Deace.

See Also:

LGBTQ Nation: Oklahoma’s head of education hires Christian Nationalists to revise social studies currciculum

[random-thought-depository]

""Moreover, it turns out that the United States is not all that tightfisted when it comes to social spending. “If you count all public benefits offered by the federal government, America’s welfare state (as a share of its gross domestic product) is the second biggest in the world, after France’s,” Desmond tells us. Why doesn’t this largesse accomplish more?

For one thing, it unduly assists the affluent. That statistic about the U.S. spending almost as much as France on social welfare, he explains, is accurate only “if you include things like government-subsidized retirement benefits provided by employers, student loans and 529 college savings plans, child tax credits, and homeowner subsidies: benefits disproportionately flowing to Americans well above the poverty line.” To enjoy most of these, you need to have a well-paying job, a home that you own, and probably an accountant (and, if you’re really in clover, a money manager).

“The American government gives the most help to those who need it least,” Desmond argues. “This is the true nature of our welfare state, and it has far-reaching implications, not only for our bank accounts and poverty levels, but also for our psychology and civic spirit.” Americans who benefit from social spending in the form of, say, a mortgage-interest tax deduction don’t see themselves as recipients of governmental generosity. The boon it offers them may be as hard for them to recognize and acknowledge as the persistence of poverty once was to Harrington’s suburban housewives and professional men. These Americans may be anti-government and vote that way. They may picture other people, poor people, as weak and dependent and themselves as hardworking and upstanding. Desmond allows that one reason for this is that tax breaks don’t feel the same as direct payments. Although they may amount to the same thing for household incomes and for the federal budget—“You can benefit a family by lowering its tax burden or by increasing its benefits, same difference”—they are associated with an obligation and a procedure that Americans, in particular, find onerous. Tax-cutting Republican lawmakers want the process to be both difficult and Swiss-cheesed with loopholes. (“Taxes should hurt,” Ronald Reagan once said.) But that’s not the only reason. What Desmond calls the “rudest explanation” is that if, for whatever reason, we get a tax break, most of us like it. That’s the case for people affluent and lucky enough to take advantage of the legitimate breaks designed for their benefit, and for the wily super-rich who game the system with expensive lawyering and ingenious use of tax shelters.

And there are other ways, Desmond points out, that government help gets thwarted or misdirected. When President Clinton instituted welfare reform, in 1996, pledging to “transform a broken system that traps too many people in a cycle of dependence,” an older model, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, or A.F.D.C., was replaced by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF. Where most funds administered by A.F.D.C. went straight to families in the form of cash aid, TANF gave grants to states with the added directive to promote two-parent families and discourage out-of-wedlock childbirth, and let the states fund programs to achieve those goals as they saw fit. As a result, “states have come up with rather creative ways to spend TANF dollars,” Desmond writes. “Nationwide, for every dollar budgeted for TANF in 2020, poor families directly received just 22 cents. Only Kentucky and the District of Columbia spent over half of their TANF funds on basic cash assistance.” Between 1999 and 2016, Oklahoma directed more than seventy million dollars toward initiatives to promote marriage, offering couples counselling and workshops that were mostly open to people of all income levels. Arizona used some of the funds to pay for abstinence education; Pennsylvania gave some of its TANF money to anti-abortion programs. Mississippi treated its TANF funds as an unexpected Christmas present, hiring a Christian-rock singer to perform at concerts, for instance, and a former professional wrestler—the author of an autobiography titled “Every Man Has His Price”—to deliver inspirational speeches. (Much of this was revealed by assiduous investigative reporters, and by a 2020 audit of Mississippi’s Department of Human Services.) Moreover, because states don’t have to spend all their TANF funds each year, many carry over big sums. In 2020, Tennessee, which has one of the highest child-poverty rates in the nation, left seven hundred and ninety million dollars in TANF funds unspent."

- The New Yorker: "How America Manufactures Poverty" by Margaret Talbot (review of Matthew Desmond's Poverty by America).

[lboogie1906]

Marietta Cooper Bryant (June 28, 1911 - October 14, 2004) was an Arizona educator and civil rights activist known for fighting for her right to teach in integrated classrooms before the SCOTUS case, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.

Born in Iconium, Oklahoma, not much is known about her early life. Documents reveal that she earned a BS in Home Economics from Oklahoma’s Colored Agricultural and Normal University.

She married Dave Bryant. After WWII, they moved to Miami, Arizona. She had obtained an Arizona teaching certificate and was offered a position at the Thomas Jefferson School for colored children in the Globe-Miami district.

She was a full-time tenured teacher with a contract, newly-passed legislation created a loophole. Teachers were initially protected by Arizona’s Tenure Law that stated teachers could not be unfairly dismissed from positions. The law stated that dismissals could be put forth if there was “good and just cause.” On March 15, 1951, a desegregation law was signed by Arizona Gov. Howard Pyle. Only three days before, they were told that their contracts would not be renewed. Colored children were being integrated into white public schools, but colored teachers were not being hired to teach in those schools.

They requested hearings with their respective school boards to argue against the unjust terminations. Their appeals were denied. The teachers sought the assistance of the Arizona Education Association, which hired legal representation for the teachers. The Gila County Superior Court ruled in favor of the teachers. The school boards appealed but lost. Both teachers were reinstated in 1952 and received a year’s back pay. She took a position teaching penmanship to grades 4-8 at the Bullion Plaza Elementary School in Miami, Arizona, where she remained until she retired.

She was inducted into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame posthumously. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[fuckyeahmarxismleninism]

The push to teach more Black history comes as dozens of states, including Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, have adopted or proposed measures that would restrict some teachings of Black history or limit language related to race, sexuality and gender issues in public schools. Some have also banned books, many by Black authors that focus on race.

“There’s urgency because these histories are under assault,’’ said Bobby Donaldson, an associate history professor at the University of South Carolina. “The battles in Florida and elsewhere remind us that it's urgent that we do this work now.’’

[ausetkmt]

CHRONOLOGY OF AMERICAN RACE RIOTS AND RACIAL VIOLENCE p.3

1911

National Urban League founded. 1914 Marcus Garvey establishes the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). November William Monroe Trotter confronts Woodrow Wilson in the White House over the president’s support for segregation in federal offices. 1915 Debut of the D.W. Griffith film, The Birth of a Nation. Failure of African American lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury Department for compensation for labor rendered under slavery. CHRONOLOGY OF AMERICAN RACE RIOTS AND RACIAL VIOLENCE lvii November William J. Simmons refounds the Ku Klux Klan at Stone Mountain in Georgia. 1916 Madison Grant publishes The Passing of the Great Race, detailing his drastic prescription—including eugenics—to save the white race from being overwhelmed by ‘‘darker races.’’ May Jesse Washington, a seventeen-year-old illiterate black farm hand, is lynched in Waco, Texas. 1917 May–July East St. Louis, Illinois, riots. August Houston, Texas, mutiny of black soldiers at Camp Logan. 1918 After protesting the lynching of her husband, Mary Turner, then eight months pregnant, is herself brutally lynched in Valdosta, Georgia. April Congressman Leonidas C. Dyer of Missouri introduces an anti-lynching bill into Congress (the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill is defeated in 1922). July Chester and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, riots. 1919 NAACP publishes Thirty Years of Lynching in the United States: 1889–1918 by Martha Gruening and Helen Boardman. May Charleston, South Carolina, riot. Summer Known as ‘‘Red Summer’’ because of the great number of people killed in various race riots around the country. July Longview, Texas, riot. Publication of Claude McKay’s sonnet, ‘‘If We Must Die.’’ Chicago, Illinois, riot. Washington, D.C., riot. August Knoxville, Tennessee, riot. September Omaha, Nebraska, riot. September– October Elaine, Arkansas, riot. 1920 Founding of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation, a major interracial reform organization in the South. 1921 April Tulsa, Oklahoma, riot. 1922 Anti-Lynching Crusaders are formed to educate Americans about lynching and work for its elimination.

Chicago Commission on Race Relations issues its influential report on the 1919 Chicago riots. lviii CHRONOLOGY OF AMERICAN RACE RIOTS AND RACIAL VIOLENCE 1923 January Rosewood, Florida, riot. February U.S. Supreme Court decision in Moore v. Dempsey leads to eventual release of twelve African Americans in Arkansas who were convicted in perfunctory mobdominated trials of killing five whites during the Elaine, Arkansas, riots of 1919. 1929 Publication of Walter White’s Rope and Faggot: A Biography of Judge Lynch. 1930 Nation of Islam (Black Muslims) is founded in Detroit, Michigan, by W.D. Fard.

Formation of the Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching, the first organization of white women opposed to lynching. October Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, riot. 1931 Scottsboro Case occurs in Alabama; the case comprises a series of trials arising outof allegations that nine African American youths raped two white girls in Scottsboro, Alabama. 1932 Supreme Court renders a decision in Powell v. Alabama, a case related to the Scottsboro, Alabama, incident of 1931. 1934 Elijah Muhammad assumes leadership of the Nation of Islam. 1935 March Harlem, New York, riot. 1936 First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt addresses the annual conventions of both the NAACP and National Urban League. 1939 Billie Holiday’s first performance of the anti-lynching song Strange Fruit occurs at Cafe´ Society, New York’s only integrated nightclub. 1941 Supreme Court decision in Mitchell v. United States spurs integration of first-class railway carriages. 1942 Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) is founded as the Committee of Racial Equality. February Double V Campaign is launched to popularize the idea that blacks should fight for freedom abroad to win freedom at home. 1943 May Mobile, Alabama, riot. June Beaumont, Texas, riot. June ‘‘Zoot Suit’’ riots in Los Angeles, California. July Detroit, Michigan, riot. August New York City (Harlem) riot. 1944 Publication of Karl Gunnar Myrdal’s An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy.

[coochiequeens]

Did you know that women are responsible for roughly half of the world’s food production? The United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer gives the global community a chance to highlight that fact and celebrate the incredibly important role women play in ensuring global food security. At the same time, it’s an unprecedented opportunity to underscore – and to address – the myriad social and economic challenges that women in agriculture face worldwide.

We’re so proud of USDA’s role in leading U.S. government efforts to introduce and generate support for the resolution, which was cosponsored by 123 other nations and passed by the UN General Assembly in May. This marked the first time in history that the United States was the lead sponsor of an “international year” at the UN, demonstrating just how important the role of women in agriculture is to our department, our nation and the world.

That’s why last week we hosted a gathering of more than 200 partners and stakeholders on USDA’s Whitten Patio (along with another 800 who joined us online!) to celebrate the resolution’s passage and to begin networking and sharing ideas for how to make the 2026 observance of the International Year of the Woman Farmer a momentous and transformational one.

In addition to the many female agricultural leaders in attendance, we were joined onstage by Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, who also serves as president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and Lauren Phillips, who serves as Deputy Director of Rural Transformation and Gender Equality at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. We’re grateful to them for sharing their insights and experiences and we’re also grateful that U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield was able to join us via video to issue a call to action.

“The International Year of the Women Farmer offers governments, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders the opportunity to better understand the challenges women face, help close the gender gap and get us closer to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said. “Together, let's amplify the voices of women farmers and better understand their financial and technological needs. Let's ensure access to credit markets, education and technology and build strong networks for mentorship and knowledge exchange. Let’s support changes in social norms that empower women farmers and implement policies that give them access and control over their land.”

We’re deeply grateful for the hard work women farmers do day in and day out to feed our nation and our world. As we continue along the road towards 2026, we encourage everyone to join our efforts to elevate and empower women in agriculture worldwide. You can learn more at www.usda.gov/iywf.

[bnyrbt]

Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old Oklahoma high school sophomore, was beaten by three girl classmates in the bathroom of Owasso High School on Feb. 7. On Feb. 8, Nex – who identified within the Two Spirit, transgender, and gender nonconforming (2STGNC) umbrella – was declared dead at the hospital.

Now LGBTQ+ Oklahomans are mourning the loss of a straight-A student, a Minecraft fan, and animal lover – a teenager – in a school district previously targeted by Libs of TikTok’s Chaya Raichik; Raichik now sits on the statewide library advisory board. In 2023, Oklahoma censured the state’s only nonbinary representative — not to mention signing into law a bill forcing public school students to use the bathroom associated with their gender assigned at birth; advocates are currently closely watching several anti-trans pieces of legislation.

Before Benedict’s name was made public, a source who claimed to be the mother of Benedict’s best friend told a local outlet the cause of death was “complications from brain trauma,” and that “three older girls were beating the victim and her daughter in the girl’s bathroom.” (We are not linking because the story uses Benedict’s deadname. According to Freedom Oklahoma, it’s not presently clear which pronouns Benedict used, so this story will refrain from using pronouns for Nex.) The anonymous source also alleged that Benedict couldn’t “walk to the nurses’ station” without assistance and that the school did not call an ambulance, while the school claims they were unaware of the fight until informed by a parent; on Feb. 20, the school backtracked, acknowledging that students saw the school nurse after the fight.

Texts allegedly sent by Nex after the fight to a family member, published by an Owasso Fox affiliate on the 20th, began, “I got jumped at school 3 on 1 had to go to the ER… They had been bullying me and my friends and I got tired of it so I poured some water on them and all 3 came after me. School did not report to the police and is probably getting sued [redacted].”

Benedict’s grandmother Sue, who also adopted Nex, brought Nex to the hospital after the fight, then home again; the next day, Nex was brought back to the hospital and was pronounced dead. Sue told The Independent that Nex was suspended for two weeks from school on the day of the fight; Sue also mentioned that Nex had been bullied throughout this school year.

“Nex did not see themselves as male or female. Nex saw themselves right down the middle. I was still learning about it, Nex was teaching me that,” Benedict told The Independent. “I was so proud of Nex. They were going some place, they were so free.”

Multiple outlets and individuals, including Oklahoma newscaster Wendy Suarez, as well as Freedom Oklahoma, the state’s LGBTQ+ advocacy org, connected Benedict’s death to the appointment of Raichik, who’s been accused of “stochastic terrorism," to the state’s “Library Media Advisory Committee” in January by the state’s Secretary of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters. According to the Independent, a “teacher who Nex had greatly admired” resigned in 2022 after Raichik targeted them on social media. Raichik has denied any responsibility in Benedict’s death, and has instead misgendered Nex repeatedly in social posts. As for Walters, in a 2023 video released by the Oklahoma Department of Education, he utilized transphobic rhetoric. He has also banned students from changing their gender on school records.

“All 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans deserve the safety to thrive,” reads in part Freedom Oklahoma’s statement about Nex Benedict’s death. “And that is becoming increasingly difficult, especially for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Oklahoma schools who face a growing list of targeted harms from bans on access to playing sports that align with their gender, to single sex bathroom and changing room restrictions that further ostracize and endanger students, non-consensual outing by school officials, shrinking access to safe adults at schools because of mandatory outing policies, censorship in school libraries that results in less 2SLGBTQ+ representation, chilled speech that makes 2SLGBTQ+ identities all but erased in school spaces at all, and a list of newly proposed harms making their way through this session with rhetoric that drives 2SLGBTQ+ hate, especially hatred of and harms towards 2STGNC+ people.”

Some outlets reported that Nex Benedict was a member of the Cherokee Nation. On Feb. 20, Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, issued a statement clarifying that “Upon searching our database, we have no indication that Nex was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. However, Nex was a child living within our reservation and deserved love, support, and to be kept safe.” The Independent’s coverage of Nex’s death claims the family “trace[s] part of their roots to the Choctaw Nation.”

For days following the attack, there was little news released on Nex’s identity, let alone identifying Nex as the child involved. On Feb. 20, as news media caught onto the story, both Owasso Public Schools and the Owasso Police Department issued an update on the investigation into Nex’s death, claiming they were still confirming the cause of death, and with the school district stating they are cooperating with authorities. The unnamed parent of Benedict’s friend claimed in the above-referenced interview that "at one point, one of the girls was pretty much repeatedly beating [Benedict’s] head across the floor."

“All of this takes place within the context of a Legislative session where Oklahoma policy makers are seeking to worsen the sense of isolation, erasure, and targeted harm 2SLGBTQ+ students face in an already hostile school environment,” wrote Nicole McAfee of Freedom Oklahoma in an Instagram post on Feb. 19, detailing a weeks’ worth of anti-LGBTQ legislation up for consideration in the state.

On Feb. 19, State Rep. Mauree Turner, Oklahoma’s only nonbinary representative, held a moment of silence for Benedict on the state house floor. In a video of the moment, Quorum Call reporter Tyler Talley observed that “while many members did quiet, some [members] continued with their conversations.” Last spring, Rep. Turner was censured within the Oklahoma state legislature for allowing a protester at a trans rights protest in the House to shelter in their office.

“Every day I get more angry that we, politicians, no matter your party affiliation are aiding in a transgenocide,” Rep. Turner wrote in a statement posted to their Instagram. “I think about how after I read Nex’s obituary on the house floor, a Democrat came to me and said well we don’t know if they actually died because of the beating… But we absolutely do. Nex’ death is a direct result of a failed administration in a public school that didn’t value the life of a trans student. A failed administration that was empowered by a failed local government who has created open season, and more specifically a transgenocide in Oklahoma.”

A GoFundMe launched by the family has recently surpassed $75,000. (Nex’s deadname is listed on the GoFundMe, which the family has called an accident.) Sue Benedict told the Independent the funds will “go to children dealing with the right to be who they feel they are.”

“Nex had a light in them that was so big, they had so many dreams. I want their light to keep shining for everyone,” she told the Independent. “That light was so big and bright and beautiful, and I want everyone to remember Nex that way.”

[amazingarchitecturewebsite]

First Americans Museum Embraces Nature, Exposes Culture, Honors History Read more: Link in bio! Oklahoma Building by Johnson Fain Widely Awarded for Expressing Mission Through Design. Twenty-five years in the making, First Americans Museum (FAM) in Oklahoma City is a testament to mission and perseverance. It was created to honor the 39 tribes in Oklahoma today, reflecting their history through design metaphors of nature’s elements of earth, wind, water, and fire. Los Angeles architecture firm Johnson Fain, along with associated Oklahoma City firm Hornbeek Blatt and New York City-based landscape architect Hargreaves Jones, created a destination representing FAM’s mission to educate the public about the cultures, diversity, history, contributions, and resilience of Oklahoma’s First American Nations… Photography: Scott McDonald; McNeese Studios; Mel Willis #usa #museum #oklahoma #архитектура www.amazingarchitecture.com ✔ A collection of the best contemporary architecture to inspire you. #design #architecture #amazingarchitecture #architect #arquitectura #luxury #realestate #life #cute #architettura #interiordesign #photooftheday #love #travel #construction #furniture #instagood #fashion #beautiful #archilovers #home #house ‎#amazing #picoftheday #architecturephotography ‎#معماری (at First Americans Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoGQwVoMzyZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[beardedmrbean]

(Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether colleges can continue to consider race as part of their admissions decisions, a practice commonly known as affirmative action.

Here is what to know about the policy, its history and the possible consequences of the court's decision.

WHAT IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?

In the context of higher education, affirmative action typically refers to admissions policies.

Colleges that take race into consideration say they do so as part of a holistic approach that reviews every aspect of an application, including grades, test scores and extracurricular activities.

The goal of race-conscious admissions policies is to increase student diversity. Schools also employ recruitment programs and scholarship opportunities intended to boost diversity, but the Supreme Court litigation is focused on admissions.

WHICH SCHOOLS CONSIDER RACE?

While many schools do not disclose details about their admissions processes, taking race into account is more common among selective schools that turn down most of their applicants.

In a 2019 survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, 24.6% of schools said race had a "considerable" or "moderate" influence on admissions, while more than half reported that race played no role whatsoever.

Nine states have banned the use of race in admissions policies: Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Washington.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT LITIGATION ABOUT?

The court is weighing two cases brought by Students for Fair Admissions, a group helmed by Edward Blum, a conservative legal strategist who has spent years fighting affirmative action.

One case contends that Harvard's admissions policy discriminates against Asian American applicants. The other asserts that the University of North Carolina discriminates against Asian American and white applicants.

The schools reject those claims. They say race is determinative in only a small number of cases and that barring the practice would result in a significant drop in the number of minority students on campus.

The court's conservative justices, who hold a 6-3 majority, expressed skepticism about the role of race in admissions during oral arguments in October, and most legal analysts expect the court to rule against the schools. The rulings are due by the end of June.

HOW HAS THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN THE PAST?

The court has largely upheld race-conscious admissions for decades, though not without limits.

A divided Supreme Court took up the issue in the landmark 1978 case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, after schools began using affirmative action in response to the Civil Rights era to correct the effects of segregation.

The swing judge, Justice Lewis Powell, ruled that schools could not use affirmative action to rectify the effects of past racial discrimination and struck down the university's practice of setting aside a certain number of spots for minorities.

Nevertheless, he found that increasing campus diversity was a "compelling interest" because students of all races - not just minorities - would receive a better education if exposed to different viewpoints. He ruled that schools could weigh race in admission, as long as it remained only one factor among many.

In 2003, the court struck down the University of Michigan's use of a system that awarded "points" to minority applicants as going too far, but affirmed Bakke's central finding that schools can use race as one of several admission factors.

The court again upheld the practice in a pair of 2016 cases challenging the University of Texas admissions policies.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES?

The court could choose to maintain the current system, eliminate race-conscious admissions altogether or settle on something in between, such as more stringent limits on the practice.

A decision banning affirmative action would force elite colleges to revamp their policies and search for new ways to ensure diversity. Many schools say other measures will not be as effective, resulting in fewer minority students.

In briefs filed with the court, the University of California and the University of Michigan - top public school systems from states that have outlawed race-conscious admissions - said they have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on alternative programs intended to improve diversity, but that those efforts have fallen far short of their goals.

[oklahomahistory]

No-Win Situation

No-Win Situation  If the Natives’ differences with white American culture and history caused problems for them, however, so did their herculean attempts to remedy that problem by acculturating themselves to the swelling United States. Large segments of several prominent southeastern Indian tribes attempted to master the ways of European and American culture, just as early American leaders such as George Washington encouraged them to do. These five tribes—the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks, and Seminoles-gained the sobriquet of the “Five Civilized Tribes" due to their strong acceptance of most of the key tenets. of an American civilization that, by most objective measurements, was succeeding, growing, and thriving far beyond their own. These tenets included its Christian religion, classical Western educational system, social culture, political institutions, and agrarian and other business practices. Famed Oklahoma historian Angie Debo cited the usefulness of the Five Civilized Tribes designation “to distinguish them from their wild neighbors of the plains.” Historian Arrell M. Gibson contrasted the powerful impact of one tribe’s mounting mixed-blood population-birthed of enterprising white fathers (Scots, Scots-Irish, Irish, English, French, etc.) and Indian mothers—with full bloods who retained old ways and associations: The mixed-bloods (among the tribes), more like their fathers than their mothers, came to adopt an advanced way of living. They developed vast estates, ranches, and businesses in the Cherokee Nation, and became slaveholders. The full bloods continued to live in log cabins, cultivated only a subsistence patch of food crops, raised horses, excelled in the old tribal crafts of hunting, fishing, a life close to nature, and now and then joined a war party for a raid on the encroaching American settlements. But many of those American settlers, including Georgians furious over the federal government’s failure to uphold its end of the Compact of 1802, feared that the Cherokees were growing too “civilized.” Why? The Georgians envisioned a large permanent-and sovereign-Indian enclave in the northwest corner of the state. They also worried that Cherokee roads, tolls, and ferries operating beyond the constraints of Georgian laws and regulations would hamper commerce with other states. Also, the tribal chiefs’ reluctance to improve the nation’s roads angered Georgian leaders. Plus, as earlier mentioned, the federal government had assured the state of the soon departure of the Cherokees. Unfortunately, the tribe itself had no part in that agreement, so they had no intention of fulfilling it. The Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks, and Seminoles faced similar indifference or hostility to their efforts at “civilizing.” Whether practicing the old ways or the new, the realization grew among the tribes that they could not win if they remained east of the Mississippi River, no matter what course they pursued. Arkansas Territory in its original form and with two sections split off to form Indian Territory. Read the entire Oklahoma story in John J. Dwyer’s The Oklahomans: The Story of Oklahoma and Its People volume 1 of a 2-part series on the 46th state and the people who make this state very special.

[mental-health-matters112]

Environment and Context

In order to fully understand the scope of mental health stigma, historical context, current events, and perspectives from various organizations and state authorities must all be considered. This problem has a lengthy history, it is not new. Individuals who suffer from mental health disorders frequently experience discrimination, exclusion, and difficulty accessing necessary support. In the past, it is clear that society frequently regarded people with mental health problems cruelly and inhumanely, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These actions strengthened the stigma associated with mental health and contributed to negative views. There have been efforts to fight this stigma over time. Community-based therapy replaced institutional care in the middle of the 20th century, but it didn't completely address the stigma in society. More recently, efforts to combat stigma have included "Time to Change" in the UK and "Stamp Out Stigma" in the US, with the goals of exposing beliefs and encouraging understanding. Organizations like Mental Health America and NAMI, as well as regional ones, are actively trying to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness today. State and local government organizations are putting policies into place to improve mental health care accessibility and fight discrimination.

Local Organization #1: NAMI Oregon

NAMI Oregon is like the local branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They're all about grassroots efforts to help people and families dealing with mental health issues. They do not just talk; they provide education, and support, and even advocate for better mental health services and less stigma. You'll find them running all sorts of programs, support groups, and community events, all with the goal of making things better for those touched by mental health conditions.

Local Organization #2: The Mental Health Association of Oregon

The Mental Health Association of Oregon is a non-profit group with a clear mission, making mental health and well-being a priority in our state. They're all about providing educational resources, advocating for change, and engaging with the community to break down stigma and improve access to mental health services. Their aim is to empower individuals, giving them the tools they need to take charge of their mental health. It's all about making mental health a part of everyday conversations and life in Oregon.

[lboogie1906]

Attorney Anita Faye Hill (July 30, 1956) is a lawyer and academic. She is a university professor of social policy, law, and women’s studies at Brandeis University and a faculty member of the university’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management. She became a national figure when she accused SCOTUS nominee Clarence Thomas, her supervisor at the US Department of Education and the EEOC, of sexual harassment.

She enrolled at Oklahoma State University and received a BA in psychology with honors. She went on to Yale Law School, obtaining her JD with honors.

She was admitted to the DC Bar and began her law career as an associate with the DC firm of Wald, Harkrader & Ross. She became an attorney-adviser to Clarence Thomas, who was the Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. When Thomas became chairman of the US EEOC.

She then became an assistant professor at the Evangelical Christian O.W. Coburn School of Law at Oral Roberts University. She joined the faculty at the University of Oklahoma College of Law where she taught commercial law and contracts. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #zetaphibeta

[reasoningdaily]

The Real Disparities of Mental Health Care in 2023 america

The real disparities of mental health care in america between minorities and rich - Reality Ausetkmt 04/13/2023

Mental Health Disparities in America

Mental health is an essential part of overall health and well-being. However, not everyone has equal access to mental health care. In America, there are significant disparities in mental health care between minorities and the rich.

State Mental Health Care Index Score

West Virginia 53.4

Mississippi 54.1

Arkansas 54.5

Oklahoma 54.9

Alabama 55.2

Kentucky 55.4

Missouri 55.7

Tennessee 55.9

Louisiana 56.1

South Carolina 56.3

The Mental Health Care Index is a score that measures the availability and quality of mental health care in each state. The score is based on a number of factors, including the number of mental health providers, the cost of mental health care, and the access to mental health care.

The states with the least mental health care are typically rural states with low incomes. These states often have fewer mental health providers, and the cost of mental health care can be prohibitive. Additionally, people in these states may be less likely to seek mental health care due to stigma or lack of awareness.

There are a number of things that can be done to improve mental health care in these states. One is to increase funding for mental health services. This would allow states to hire more mental health providers and make mental health care more affordable. Additionally, states can work to reduce stigma associated with mental illness and educate the public about the importance of mental health care.

There is a strong correlation between mental health care spending and violence rates. States with lower mental health care spending tend to have higher rates of violence. This is likely due to a number of factors.

First, people with mental health problems are more likely to be victims of violence. They may be more likely to be targeted by criminals, or they may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors that put them at risk of violence.

Second, people with mental health problems are more likely to be perpetrators of violence. They may be more likely to lash out in anger or frustration, or they may be more likely to commit violent crimes.

Third, states with lower mental health care spending tend to have fewer resources for preventing and responding to violence. This means that there are fewer programs and services available to help people who are at risk of violence, and there are fewer resources available to respond to violent incidents when they do occur.

There are a number of things that can be done to address the link between mental health care spending and violence. One is to increase funding for mental health services. This would allow states to hire more mental health providers and make mental health care more affordable. Additionally, states can work to reduce stigma associated with mental illness and educate the public about the importance of mental health care. Finally, states can invest in programs and services that prevent and respond to violence.

there is a correlation between police violence statistics and states with less spending on mental health care.

A 2021 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that states with lower mental health care spending had higher rates of police killings of unarmed civilians. The study found that a 10% increase in mental health care spending was associated with a 1.5% decrease in the rate of police killings of unarmed civilians.

The study's authors suggested that the link between mental health care spending and police violence may be due to a number of factors. One possibility is that people with mental health problems are more likely to be involved in interactions with police, and that these interactions are more likely to be violent. Another possibility is that police officers in states with lower mental health care spending may be less well-equipped to deal with people with mental health problems, which may increase the risk of violence.

The study's findings suggest that increasing mental health care spending could be an effective way to reduce police violence. However, it is important to note that the study was observational, and it is not possible to say definitively that the link between mental health care spending and police violence is causal. More research is needed to confirm the findings of this study and to identify the specific mechanisms that may be responsible for the link.

Minorities

Minorities are more likely to experience mental health problems than white people. However, they are also less likely to receive mental health care. In 2017, only 39.2% of black adults with a mental illness received treatment, compared to 54.9% of white adults.

There are a number of factors that contribute to these disparities. One factor is lack of access to care. Minorities are more likely to live in areas with fewer mental health providers. They are also more likely to be uninsured or underinsured.

Another factor is stigma. Minorities are more likely to report feeling stigmatized for seeking mental health care. They are also more likely to believe that mental health problems are a sign of weakness or personal failure.

The Rich

The rich are more likely to have access to mental health care than the poor. In 2017, 67.7% of adults with a household income of $75,000 or more received treatment, compared to 45.7% of adults with a household income of less than $25,000.

There are a number of factors that contribute to these disparities. One factor is cost. Mental health care can be expensive, and the rich are more likely to be able to afford it.

Another factor is access to care. The rich are more likely to have health insurance that covers mental health care. They are also more likely to live in areas with more mental health providers.

The Impact of Disparities

Mental health disparities have a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities. People who do not receive mental health care are more likely to experience symptoms of mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. They are also more likely to have problems at work, school, and in their relationships.

Mental health disparities also have a financial impact. The cost of untreated mental illness is estimated to be $210 billion each year. This includes the cost of health care, lost productivity, and criminal justice costs.

Addressing Disparities

There are a number of things that can be done to address mental health disparities. One is to increase access to care. This can be done by expanding insurance coverage for mental health care, increasing the number of mental health providers, and making mental health care more affordable.

Another is to reduce stigma. This can be done by educating the public about mental health, promoting positive portrayals of mental illness in the media, and challenging negative stereotypes.

Finally, we need to invest in research on mental health disparities. This research can help us to understand the causes of disparities and develop effective interventions.

Conclusion

Mental health disparities are a serious problem in America. They have a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities. There are a number of things that can be done to address these disparities. By increasing access to care, reducing stigma, and investing in research, we can make mental health care more equitable for all Americans.

[shadetreader]

Reposted from @zinneducationproject On Feb. 19, 1968, over 27,000 teachers and administrators from the Florida Education Association (FEA) handed in their resignation letters and walked out. It was the first statewide teachers strike in the United States. The Florida Teachers’ Strike of 1968 occurred in response to Governor Claude Kirk’s refusal to meet Florida Education Association (FEA) demands on salary and school budget increases, and the overall failure of Florida legislators to fund public education. The strike lasted until March 8, when the State Board of Education and FEA came to an agreement on increasing funds for public education. Many teachers went back to work after the strike ended but thousands were also refused rehire due to their involvement in the strike. Learn more about the strike in “For the students: the 1968 Florida teacher strike” (undergraduate thesis by Jody Noll) and “‘We Are Not Hired Help’: The 1968 Florida Statewide Teacher and the Formation of Modern Florida” by Jody Noll. Florida Historical Quarterly 95, no. 3 (2017): 356-382. In his 2017 article, Noll describes how the strike was a continuation of Florida’s Black Civil Rights Movement and how African-American “leaders within Florida’s civil rights movement viewed the teachers’ strike as a means to address the disparities between white and African-American schools.” The strike occurred after Florida’s teachers unions merged as an integrated FEA in 1966. With the unions united, Black and white teachers found common ground in the labor struggle. This is one of many people's history stories in Florida history that could be labeled too "controversial" to teach — in Florida and other states. What's the "danger" of these stories? That young people learn from the past how to shape a more just future. In solidarity, The New Press has partnered with the Zinn Education Project to send books to teachers and teacher educators in Florida (as well as Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas). Learn more at https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/free-books-florida-texas-virginia [linked in bio] https://www.instagram.com/p/Co3k8RutJIN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mayaduffphleb]

Opening Opportunity: Phlebotomy Jobs in Oklahoma - Your Guide to Thriving in the Healthcare Field

Unlocking Opportunity: Phlebotomy Jobs in Oklahoma – Your‍ Guide to Thriving in the Healthcare Field

Are you considering⁣ a career in the healthcare industry in Oklahoma? If so, phlebotomy could be the ‌perfect‍ fit for you. Phlebotomy ⁤is‍ the practice‌ of drawing blood from ⁢patients for‍ various ‌medical ‍tests, donations, or research. It is a critical role in the healthcare system, as ⁤accurate blood samples are⁤ essential for diagnosing and treating various medical conditions.

Phlebotomy jobs in Oklahoma are in high demand, ⁣offering a fulfilling ​career path with opportunities⁣ for growth and advancement. This comprehensive guide will provide you⁣ with everything you need to know about pursuing a career in phlebotomy in Oklahoma, including job‍ outlook, training requirements, salaries,‌ and ​tips for success.

Job Outlook for Phlebotomy Jobs in Oklahoma

The healthcare industry in Oklahoma is rapidly growing, creating an increased demand for qualified phlebotomists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment ⁢of ⁤phlebotomists is projected to grow 17% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the⁢ average for all occupations. This growth is⁣ driven by an aging population that‍ will require more medical services, including blood tests for various‌ conditions.

Phlebotomy is‍ an essential‍ component of healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and blood donation centers.‌ Phlebotomists play a ‌vital role in helping patients ⁤feel comfortable during blood draws, ensuring accurate specimen collection,‌ and maintaining a safe and⁣ sterile work environment.

Training Requirements for Phlebotomy Jobs in Oklahoma

To become a ‌phlebotomist‍ in Oklahoma, you​ will need to complete a training program and obtain certification. Most phlebotomy training programs can be completed⁤ in less ‍than a year and include classroom instruction ⁤as⁢ well as hands-on ‌clinical experience.⁢ Some employers may also require phlebotomists to have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Once you have completed a training program, you can pursue certification through organizations such as the American ⁤Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).‍ Certification demonstrates your ​proficiency in phlebotomy​ techniques⁤ and can⁣ enhance your job prospects in Oklahoma.

Salary and Benefits of Phlebotomy​ Jobs in ‍Oklahoma

Phlebotomists in Oklahoma​ can expect competitive salaries and benefits, making it‌ a rewarding career choice. ⁤According to the BLS, the median ​annual wage ‌for phlebotomists in Oklahoma ⁢was $33,430 in May 2020. Salaries can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, and employer.

In addition to⁤ a competitive⁢ salary, phlebotomy⁤ jobs in Oklahoma may offer benefits such as medical, dental, and⁢ vision ​insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and opportunities for professional development. ‌Many employers also provide a‌ supportive work environment ⁢with ​opportunities for advancement within ⁣the healthcare field.

Tips⁤ for Success in Phlebotomy ‍Jobs in Oklahoma

To thrive in a phlebotomy career in Oklahoma, consider the following tips for success:

1. ‌Develop strong communication skills to build rapport with patients and colleagues. 2. Stay updated on‍ the latest phlebotomy techniques and ⁤best practices through ‍continuing education. 3. Practice good organizational skills to maintain accurate records⁤ and ⁤specimen ‍collection. 4. Prioritize patient ⁤safety and adhere to infection control protocols at all‍ times. 5.‍ Seek opportunities for⁤ professional ​growth and ​advancement within ⁤the healthcare field.

By following these tips for success, you can excel in your phlebotomy career in Oklahoma and make a meaningful impact on patients’‍ lives.

Conclusion

Phlebotomy jobs in Oklahoma offer a rewarding career path with opportunities ⁢for ⁣growth and advancement in the healthcare industry. With⁢ the right⁣ training, certification, and skills, you can thrive ​as a phlebotomist in⁤ Oklahoma and ​make a difference in patients’ lives. Whether ⁤you​ are just starting your career or‌ looking ⁣to transition into⁤ a new‌ field, phlebotomy ⁢could be the perfect ⁣opportunity ⁤for you. Take the first step towards a fulfilling career ‌in phlebotomy and unlock your potential ‍in⁢ the healthcare field.

Remember, ‍the healthcare industry is always in ‌need‌ of ⁢skilled professionals like⁤ phlebotomists. By⁣ pursuing ⁣a career in phlebotomy in Oklahoma, you can become an essential⁢ part of the healthcare‍ team and contribute⁢ to improving patient outcomes. Don’t wait⁤ – start your journey ​towards a successful phlebotomy⁤ career today!

https://phlebotomyclassesonline.net/opening-opportunity-phlebotomy-jobs-in-oklahoma-your-guide-to-thriving-in-the-healthcare-field/