ScissorTales » christine watson

Tuition for illegal immigrants

christine watson — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:01:00 +0000

New Jersey won’t be joining the short list of states allowing undocumented students to attend college at in-state tuition rates. The effect, supporters said, is that children will be punished for the actions of their illegal immigrant parents and likely won’t attend college at all. The measure’s failure is rightfully disappointing although the in-state tuition denial has become a politically popular choice in many states. While higher education is not a right, it’s an opportunity that ought to be as widely available as possible for those who want it. Banning students who were young and had no say when their family immigrated slams shut the door of opportunity for many of those students who simply cannot afford the much higher price tag of out-of-state tuition. What good comes from that?

Judgment day

christine watson — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:22:57 +0000

An Ardmore mother will find her bank account about $3,000 lighter because her high school-age daughter kept missing school. Here’s hoping parents will get the message prosecutor Craig Ladd was aiming for. “Parents have several responsibilities when it comes to their children,” Ladd told The Daily Ardmoreite. “One responsibility that gets overlooked by some parents is making their children attend school, and we take school attendance very seriously. This case is good example of just how costly that failed responsibility can be.” Indeed. Schools have cracked down on truancy in recent years, knowing that students don’t learn if they’re not in school and because attendance rates now factor into the state’s school rating system. The ideal solution has students back in class before the case hits the court system. But when that doesn’t work, parents shouldn’t be surprised if they find themselves in front of a judge.

Just the facts

christine watson — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:39:21 +0000

Tensions are high over a school deregulation bill. Is it too much to expect top education officials to keep the debate in the adult realm? Last week, some members of the state education board weren’t shy in expressing their displeasure. One exchange had a board member saying supporters of Senate Bill 834 were drinking “Republican whiskey.” Really? That nonsense is on top of the fear tactics the Oklahoma Education Association and some other opponents are employing. All involved should just stick to the truth. Doing so would still leave plenty of room for sincere debate.

Final bell

christine watson — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:50:48 +0000

Not for 20 years had the bell sounded. Not until last week, when a wife and two little girls said a final goodbye to a husband and father that the rest of us knew as a hero. Cpl. Christopher Dill was a 15-year-veteran of the Oklahoma City Fire Department and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp. He died March 4 after collapsing while fighting at three-alarm apartment fire and was buried last week. The bell signaling a fallen firefighter sounded at his funeral for the first time since three firefighters died in 1989. All we can say is thank you to him and his family, and yet that hardly seems sufficient for a man who not once but twice took on jobs to protect others. Thank you, and God bless the loved ones left behind.

Helping children

christine watson — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:59:44 +0000

It’s a shame that a group that does so much for children is finding itself mired in financial controversy. The Oklahoma CASA Association is made up mostly of volunteers that act as advocates for abused and neglected children as their cases proceed through the court system. Anna Naukam, the association’s director, was fired in October, and now agency officials are challenging the legitimacy of large credit card debt issued to Naukam on the agency’s behalf. The Oklahoman’s Ann Kelley reported that the credit card statements were mailed to Naukam’s home. The state auditor and inspector’s office is involved, and we hope the problems will be resolved quickly. Nothing should distract from the good work of CASA volunteers.

Party time’s over

christine watson — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:08:53 +0000

It’s no secret that Angela Monson is one of the most well-known and respected women in the state’s Democratic Party. Good for her. But her position as the new chairman of the Oklahoma City School Board is nonpartisan, and she must avoid any appearance to the contrary. Oklahoma County’s Democratic Party was active in her election. She was even scheduled to be a “special guest” at a party-sponsored fundraising event this week. Monson was only sworn into the post on Monday; she hasn’t had time to set the tone for the board she now leads. The county party isn’t at fault for inviting Monson. Only she can make clear that she’ll keep party politics or her affiliation with any agenda-specific groups at arm’s length. She must do just that, in reality and perception.

Party time’s over

christine watson — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:08:53 +0000

Wasting time

christine watson — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:02:54 +0000

Tough budget times tend to leave lawmakers with too much time on their hands. We’re glad to see they didn’t waste much time on yet another unnecessary proposal that would infuse science classes with faith and morality discussions. Science teachers and their students already have sufficient freedom to explore scientific issues. Teachers must use their best judgment in guiding the discussion and keeping students on track. The proposed Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act, which was killed in a Senate committee this week, and similar bills would just further muddy the academic waters. Lawmakers should stick to problems that need fixing. Academic freedom in the science classroom isn’t one of them.

Leadership appreciated

christine watson — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:27:01 +0000

Kirk Humphreys barely had a chance to get started as chairman of the Oklahoma City School Board before voters bid him a hasty exit in favor of former state Sen. Angela Monson. We’re nonetheless grateful for Humphreys’ leadership during that short time, including his input in the hiring of Superintendent Karl Springer and his efforts to massage a 2007 bond issue plan so schools will get the promised projects without a tax increase. We hope history will prove that one MAPS for Kids legacy is proven leaders taking a renewed and active interest in the school district’s affairs. Patrons were fortunate to have two quality candidates to choose from in the first-ever chairman’s election. Who could’ve foreseen 10 years ago that a former mayor and former state senator would run against each other for school board?

Economic development endowment funding

christine watson — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:40:24 +0000

Will the envy from the other end of the turnpike ever end? Doubtful. Reaction to Gov. Brad Henry’s State of the State speech is the latest evidence. Henry called for lawmakers to approve a dedicated funding source for the EDGE endowment, boosting the amount of money that can be used for research and growing the principal. The Tulsa World’s reaction was to call into question – once again – whether Tulsa was unfairly shut out of the first round of funding awards. While calling the fund’s goals “laudable,” an editorial noted the awards’ “apparent imbalance” that tilted toward the Oklahoma City area. The newspaper had a similar reaction when the awards were announced late last year. The fund’s oversight board reviewed nearly 100 proposals before deciding on five to split the $12 million in available funding. One of the projects proposed creating 100 jobs in Oklahoma City. Does that mean it’s time for Tulsa to cry discrimination? Hardly. To question the integrity of the selection process based on one year’s results is presumptuous, to say the least. It would be fabulous for the state if the EDGE fund can eventually finance projects in every corner of the state and at many points in between. But merit not geography must be the determining factor.

Gene Roddenberry’s last frontier

christine watson — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:51:12 +0000

Pithy commentary is difficult to avoid when it comes to Star Trek stars wanting to make space their final resting place. It is, after all, the final frontier. And while they’re not quite going where no man has gone before, they are planning to stay there. Part of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s remains was launched into space in 1997. His wife, Majel, died last year. Her remains and the rest of her husband’s will be sent into space in 2012, via a rocket-launched spacecraft, according to a message from the couple’s son left on the Web site of Celestis Memorial Spaceflights. The company said the mission fulfills Majel Roddenberry’s wish for the couple’s own “personal star trek … deep into the final frontier.” We wonder if the price list that ranges from about $700 to more than $37,000 includes a frequent flyer discount.

Gene Roddenberry’s last frontier

christine watson — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:51:12 +0000

Generous students

christine watson — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:48:59 +0000

Teenagers aren’t all bad. We know this, of course. But it doesn’t hurt to be reminded. Students in the DECA club at Edmond North High School raised $2,400 for the Coffee Creek Riding Club. The club has provided free therapeutic riding to children and adults with varied disabilities for nearly three decades. Most of the club’s students range from toddlers to pre-teens. It’s a worthy program and the Edmond North students deserve applause for making sure it lives on. Job well done.

Child safety seat laws

christine watson — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:41:08 +0000

AAA Oklahoma’s Chuck Mai wrote this week that it’s been 31 years since Tennessee passed the nation’s first child safety seat law. For parents of young children, it’s hard to imagine not stressing out over which car seat to buy, whether a child needs a rear- or front-facing seat and when they can graduate to the much cheaper and much easier to lug around booster seats. Mai thinks Oklahoma’s law regarding child safety seats is due updating. Current law allows children ages 6 and older to be seated in booster seats or a seat belt. That means many parents let their 6- and 7-year-olds use regular seat belts before they’re big enough, he said. The safer route, he said, would be to require booster seats for children up to 80 pounds. That would be a huge change for Oklahomans, and one not all parents will be happy about. But Mai’s concerns are worth listening to.

New leader for Oral Roberts University

christine watson — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:49:43 +0000

He’s no televangelist. But the man officials want to take over at Oral Roberts University is no stranger to turning around a struggling Christian university. Mark Rutland is president of Southeastern University, a Florida private school with roots to the Pentecostal church. Officials there called Rutland a “catalyst” for growth, pointing to substantial enrollment growth and infrastructure improvements. Rutland is set to visit the Tulsa private school at month’s end as trustees consider whether to hire him as the school’s next president. Rutland has said he wants to move ORU forward. If he becomes president, we wish him luck. Overcoming the recent scandal and financial difficulties in financially troubling times will be a huge challenge.

Free lunch

christine watson — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:26:35 +0000

It’s no secret that when many kids go home for the holiday break, they may not get another nutritious meal until school reopens. Officials with one

Ohio school district were so worried that the economy would force even more students to go hungry over the holidays that they opted to reopen some school cafeterias for several days. “The economy is so tight, and the food stamp dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to,” a school official told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “This is America; we’ve got to take care of each other. Food for children should not be an issue.” Indeed.

Fattest city in America

christine watson — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:33:47 +0000

In Huntington, W. Va., the residents don’t talk much about living in the fattest city in America. Most of them probably don’t even realize it, according to health officials. Most people, says the city’s overweight mayor, are much more worried about the economy. Businesses and even hospitals fought smoking bans.

We can’t help but see the parallels. Whether it’s looking at obesity, diabetes or heart disease, Oklahoma’s among the nation’s unhealthiest states. There are myriad efforts to improve Oklahoma’s health statistics and the general health of Oklahomans. From smoking restrictions to school-based nutrition education to Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett’s citywide diet challenge, ideas abound for making us a healthier city and state. But an obstacle both here and in West Virginia is one of culture that takes time – and a lot of it – to change.

Southern food’s always been on the fatty side, with fried chicken and chicken fried steak longtime staples. Fast food is also a mainstay with so many families struggling to pay the bills. By comparison, fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive.

Health officials here and in West Virginia aren’t giving up on the idea of improving health statistics. But it won’t happen quickly.

Mid-Del school dilemma

christine watson — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:03:35 +0000

To close or not to close. That’s the question in eastern Oklahoma County, where school officials in the Midwest City-Del City district are considering whether to some schools to save money, address safety concerns and enrollment declines. A task force of community members and school district staff offered up eight scenarios for the school board to consider. They range from doing nothing to closing two elementary schools and a middle school. At a town hall meeting last week, no speakers supported closing schools. Imagine that. School board members have many interests to consider in deciding if and how to act. Oklahoma City’s decision to close some schools as part of MAPS for Kids wasn’t exactly popular. But what’s popular and what’s right isn’t always the same thing.

Read the proposed scenarios here.

Broken Arrow superintendent battle

christine watson — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:13:50 +0000

Drama class

Presidential politics may take the national stage, but school districts certainly have their fair share of drama.

Those living in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and many parts in between are well aware of the superintendent sagas that have played out in those cities during the past year. No doubt parents in a Tulsa suburb are embarrassed and angry that there’s a showdown between the school board and superintendent in their hometown.

The stage is Broken Arrow, where a divided school board suspended the superintendent and forbid him from stepping onto school grounds without approval. The Tulsa World reported that when Jim Sisney, the suspended schools chief, tried to retrieve his belongings from the administration building, police were called. He wasn’t arrested and police said he’s not a criminal suspect.

The request for police assistance wasn’t the first legal skirmish involving Sisney. In September, he filed a defamation lawsuit against five people, including three school board members. He’s also suing an attorney who has done legal work for the district.

The shame is that school leadership dramas detract and distract from the important work happening in schools. That’s not good for the kids who need adults to rise above the theater of chaos.

Paying for student performance

christine watson — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:12:51 +0000

Take it to the bank

Thousands of Washington D.C. middle school students are getting a chance to take their good grades and behavior to the bank. On-time attendance, good grades and not disrupting class can net students up to $100 weekly – with a maximum of $1,500 per student for the school year. The Washington Post reported that the Harvard economist who created the Capital Gains program isn’t necessarily expecting to close the achievement gap nor is he sure it will prove effective. Still, teachers report the program jointly funded by the school district and a grant has students paying more attention to their behavior and attendance. Doesn’t seem like that long ago that a parent paying a child for good grades was controversial. Some students may soon figure out that a double dip isn’t just about ice cream.