In light of the recent bomb threats made to a public school district which he represents, Representative Jeff Boatman is calling on officials to end the political rhetoric and begin talking about how to improve educational outcomes in Oklahoma.
Threats were made to schools in the Union Public Schools district in the wake of an inflammatory social media post by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters.
“It is past time for threats against the safety of our schools, students, teachers and administrators to stop. I am certain that the men and women of our law enforcement agencies will work tirelessly until they find the person or persons responsible for these despicable threats and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
“However, I take issue with the messaging and controversy that preceded and emboldened last week’s threats,” said Boatman in a statement issued Wednesday.
He contends students deserve better from their leaders.
“Our children are the future of our city, state and nation, and they deserve the very best that we can provide. They deserve for their leaders to sacrifice our pride and personal agendas in favor of setting our kids up for success.
“Whether we are posting social media content, or reposting it, public servants have a duty to them to put the best interest first of our most vulnerable first. Controversy, divisiveness, and fearmongering are not ever in their best interest. Fighting political battles instead of working together to improve the education system that we offer them is never the foundation of sound policy.
“I am asking those entrusted with the education of our children at each and every level to hold themselves to a higher standard. It’s time we move away from satire, mistrust, hateful rhetoric and threats and instead have a serious, thoughtful discussion on how to move our state’s education system forward. When we fail to rise above, we fail our children and our state. There is a way to do this better, and we owe it to our children to try to find that way,” Boatman said.
Mr. Boatman, you are WRONG. Mr. Walters is correct, and he is doing what should have been done years ago by Joy Hofmeister who did nothing but promote her socialist, democratic ways even though at the time she said she was a republican as you yourself claim to be. You need to support Mr. Walters who was elected by the majority to clean up our schools and teach our kids how to read. You have proven many times that you should not have been elected and please change parties as you are truly not a conservative republican.Thank you, Donna Beekman, Tulsa