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Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters is calling for an Oklahoma teacher’s credentials to be revoked after she provided information for students about the Brooklyn Public Library.
In his public missive, Walters erroneously stated that the teacher, Summer Boismier, had been fired from her position in Norman, Oklahoma. The truth is, Boismier resigned after she was investigated following a parent complaint.
Boismier’s alleged crime was providing a QR code with a link to join the Brooklyn Public Library in New York. The Brooklyn Public Library has a program called “Books Unbanned,” which offers access to their online library for anyone between the ages of 13 and 21.
For simply providing the online link, Boismier was admonished by Norman Public Schools administrators. Leadership referred to the incident as Boismier “making personal, political statements during class time and using (her) classroom to make a political display expressing those opinions.”
Banning books, threatening teachers in the land of the free
In 2021, Oklahoma passed HB 1775, limiting how teachers taught such topics as history, English, geography, and social studies. Teachers may not present materials in a way that teaches students to feel “discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress” because of their race or gender.
After receiving public censure, Boismier resigned from her position rather than return to the classroom.
Meanwhile, Walters’ political theatre has made headlines across the country. He sensationalized the story on his social media, stating, “Sexualizing our classrooms will not be tolerated.”
Walters also came for Joy Hofmeister, the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Education. Hofmeister is currently running for Governor of Oklahoma against right-wing incumbent Kevin Stitt.
The backlash from teachers and others against Walters’ announcement has been swift and widespread. “Fascism” has been used often to describe Walters’ letter, as well as “un-American.”
Meanwhile Boismier, a teacher who believes she did the right thing for her students, is not planning to leave education. “That’s a message that I’d like to send to the folks at the top of the food chain in state leadership,” she said in an interview with CNN and The Washington Post. “I’m not going anywhere.”
To join the Brooklyn Public Library, click this link. To learn more about Jena Nelson, Walters’ opponent in the race for Oklahoma State Superintendent of Education, click this link.
Yes revoke her licence. She said she will continue doing the same thing again and again
You mean providing students with access to free resources that will enhance their education? Lol oh noo the horrors!
So Nazi-like for school districts that are banning books. They are like ostriches – trying to keep their heads in the sand.
OMG she helped a student read books online!!!! Horrible.. my god this country sucks. ????
If the teacher wants to go against OK HB1775, the state education secretary certainly can recommend her license to be revoked. If the teacher feels so inclined to expose her OK students to the NY rot gut, then perhaps she should move there and push the woke ideology where it is most desired.
Some school districts are trying to ban classics like “To kill a Mockingbird” because it depicts racism in the south. It’s like we don’t want our children to learn about actual history?
I never in a million years ever thought that this country would ban the teaching of our history. We did many things that were wrong but banning the teaching of it is ranks among one of the worst. We should be ashamed of ourselves.
So, Walters wants to be the states superintendent when he doesn’t know how to investigate the actual facts behind a situation before writing a letter to revoke a teachers license? He sounds too irresponsible, undereducated and immature for the job. Makes you wonder what his real agenda is about.