The group United for Peace and Justice has announced several peace protests scheduled for this weekend.
In Oklahoma City, an End the War Rally is scheduled 11 to 12:30 a.m today at the intersection of the Northwest Expressway and Meridian Avenue.
On Sunday the Church of the Open Arms will hold a Peace Music Concert 5 to 6:30 p.m. The church is at 3131 N. Pennsylvania Ave., in Oklahoma City. The concert, “An Artful Call For Peace,” features singer-songwriter Tracy Feldman.
Oklahoma City also will also host its 21st annual Peace Rally from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Civic Center Music Hall’s “Hall off Mirrors” in downtown Oklahoma City. Admission is free.
For more information, call Nathanel Batchelder, director of The Peace House at 524-5577 or visit www.peacehouseok.org.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tom Cole on the 2008 election
WASHINGTON — While he said he wouldn’t make a political issue of his belief that violence had decreased in Iraq, U.S. Congressman Tom Cole said improvements in the Iraq war could help Republicans’ 2008 election efforts.
“We will have a better chance if the number of American troops over there is smaller,” he said. “There’s no question that’s helpful politically.”
But Cole, the chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, said next year’s elections will be more about “the post-Iraq world” that the current war.
“I believe people will be thinking about health care, taxes and the economy,” he said.
Cole, who returned his week from a four-day fact-finding visit to Iraq, Kuwait and Germany, predicted the 2008 presidential race to be “a close election” which, he said, would work to Republicans’ advantage.
“I think a lot of Democratic members will have cast tough votes. But that’s the nature of politics. Still, I think we’ll have issues and a better political environment.”
And though the GOP’s position is stronger than last year, Cole said that environment “has to get better” before Republicans can regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“We will need a strong presidential candidate,” he said. “If not it could cause trouble.”
With his seat considered safe by most political experts, Cole has seen his share of controversy.
He denied a rumor that incumbent Sen. Jim Inhofe wouldn’t seek re-election, and he, instead, would run for the seat.
“I have not heard that,” Cole said. “I’d be shocked if he (Inhofe) didn’t run. He’s our senior Senator and he’s been very effective in getting Oklahoma $130 to $140 million more in road money. No, I haven’t heard that.”
Cole also faced criticism over the NRCC’s recent fundraising efforts.
The program — which he said has since been stopped — involved calls from National Republican Congressional Committee staffers who told donors they’ve received the group’s National Leadership Award.
Callers were told they had received the award, then asked to contribute money to support a “media blitz” announcing the honor.
The program quickly became controversial, generating hundreds of web blog listings, e-mails and complaints to the Better Business Bureau.
Cole said the program was in place when he became NRCC chairman and once he became aware of the complaints, the program was changed.
“Some of that stuff was inherited,” he said. “And I thought it went a little beyond pale. Since then things have changed.”
Cole said it “took a while” to stop the fundraising calls, because the NRCC was “locked into several contracts.”
“We have made some changes,” he said. “We’ve got a new finance crew and I have a very different idea about raising money.”
To win, he said, Republicans need strong candidates, a strong message and a good image.
“I try each day to go to the floor and earn back the mantle of a fiscally responsible, free enterprise Congressman,” he said.
“And that’s what it takes. The rest is a mechanical process and good mechanics never trump a strong message and a good image.”
“We will have a better chance if the number of American troops over there is smaller,” he said. “There’s no question that’s helpful politically.”
But Cole, the chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, said next year’s elections will be more about “the post-Iraq world” that the current war.
“I believe people will be thinking about health care, taxes and the economy,” he said.
Cole, who returned his week from a four-day fact-finding visit to Iraq, Kuwait and Germany, predicted the 2008 presidential race to be “a close election” which, he said, would work to Republicans’ advantage.
“I think a lot of Democratic members will have cast tough votes. But that’s the nature of politics. Still, I think we’ll have issues and a better political environment.”
And though the GOP’s position is stronger than last year, Cole said that environment “has to get better” before Republicans can regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“We will need a strong presidential candidate,” he said. “If not it could cause trouble.”
With his seat considered safe by most political experts, Cole has seen his share of controversy.
He denied a rumor that incumbent Sen. Jim Inhofe wouldn’t seek re-election, and he, instead, would run for the seat.
“I have not heard that,” Cole said. “I’d be shocked if he (Inhofe) didn’t run. He’s our senior Senator and he’s been very effective in getting Oklahoma $130 to $140 million more in road money. No, I haven’t heard that.”
Cole also faced criticism over the NRCC’s recent fundraising efforts.
The program — which he said has since been stopped — involved calls from National Republican Congressional Committee staffers who told donors they’ve received the group’s National Leadership Award.
Callers were told they had received the award, then asked to contribute money to support a “media blitz” announcing the honor.
The program quickly became controversial, generating hundreds of web blog listings, e-mails and complaints to the Better Business Bureau.
Cole said the program was in place when he became NRCC chairman and once he became aware of the complaints, the program was changed.
“Some of that stuff was inherited,” he said. “And I thought it went a little beyond pale. Since then things have changed.”
Cole said it “took a while” to stop the fundraising calls, because the NRCC was “locked into several contracts.”
“We have made some changes,” he said. “We’ve got a new finance crew and I have a very different idea about raising money.”
To win, he said, Republicans need strong candidates, a strong message and a good image.
“I try each day to go to the floor and earn back the mantle of a fiscally responsible, free enterprise Congressman,” he said.
“And that’s what it takes. The rest is a mechanical process and good mechanics never trump a strong message and a good image.”
Cole: Things are better in Iraq
WASHINGTON — Violence in Iraq is down, U.S. soldiers are upbeat, and the Sunnis are turning against al-Qaida, U.S. Congressman Tom Cole said Wednesday.
Cole, who returned from Iraq this week following a four-day Congressional fact finding mission, said the war-torn country is undergoing “remarkable changes.”
“It was an amazing trip,” he said. “And they’ve seen quite remarkable changes over the past year. Our group was the first group to go into Ramadi. No other group has been able to do that, it’s a genuine measure of the progress.”
Cole, R-Moore, said he traveled overseas to look at three areas: the logistics and movement of material and people in and out of Iraq; the quality of medical care and the medical installations; and the changes happening inside of the country.
The trip was Cole’s seventh visit to the country.
“I saw a lot of the country,” he said. “I talked to everyone from shopkeepers to Iraqi soldiers and I talked to many, many U.S. soldiers. And their moral is very high. They are great believers in their mission and they have confidence in General Petraeus as compared to a year ago.”
The biggest change, he said, was a reduction in violence.
“When I was there in 2004, I couldn’t go outside the Green Zone,’ said. “And we didn’t go into Ramadi.”
At that time Cole said, “you couldn’t go 10 feet in Ramadi without being hit by an IED (improvised explosive device) or small arms fire.”
And though the area is “still a dangerous place” for those soldiers stationed there, Cole said the number of U.S. causalities had dropped.
“It’s nice to see the violence decreasing,” he said. “When you can walk into places like Ramadi without armor, and you get outside the Green Zone, well, all those tell me things are getting better.”
Additionally, Cole said Sunni Muslims’ awakening “is a real thing.”
“They are sick of the violence and al-Qaida,” he said. “The Sunnis have realized they can work with us.”
Current estimates show about 35 percent of Iraq’s population is made up of Sunni Muslims. “And they have turned on al-Qaida,” he said.
Cole said the reduction in violence also has encouraged the country’s reconstruction efforts.
“I spoke with a military unit from Tulsa,” he said. “Their job is to help get civic services going again. And they are very popular. Things are changing.”
Yet while he remains optimistic about the war’s pace, Cole said the situation in Iraq is “still very fluid and very fragile.”
“Iraq can break your heart, but it’s still a very dangerous place. I can see the level of American involvement going down. But only if the Iraq people can take advantage of the situation.”
Cole, who returned from Iraq this week following a four-day Congressional fact finding mission, said the war-torn country is undergoing “remarkable changes.”
“It was an amazing trip,” he said. “And they’ve seen quite remarkable changes over the past year. Our group was the first group to go into Ramadi. No other group has been able to do that, it’s a genuine measure of the progress.”
Cole, R-Moore, said he traveled overseas to look at three areas: the logistics and movement of material and people in and out of Iraq; the quality of medical care and the medical installations; and the changes happening inside of the country.
The trip was Cole’s seventh visit to the country.
“I saw a lot of the country,” he said. “I talked to everyone from shopkeepers to Iraqi soldiers and I talked to many, many U.S. soldiers. And their moral is very high. They are great believers in their mission and they have confidence in General Petraeus as compared to a year ago.”
The biggest change, he said, was a reduction in violence.
“When I was there in 2004, I couldn’t go outside the Green Zone,’ said. “And we didn’t go into Ramadi.”
At that time Cole said, “you couldn’t go 10 feet in Ramadi without being hit by an IED (improvised explosive device) or small arms fire.”
And though the area is “still a dangerous place” for those soldiers stationed there, Cole said the number of U.S. causalities had dropped.
“It’s nice to see the violence decreasing,” he said. “When you can walk into places like Ramadi without armor, and you get outside the Green Zone, well, all those tell me things are getting better.”
Additionally, Cole said Sunni Muslims’ awakening “is a real thing.”
“They are sick of the violence and al-Qaida,” he said. “The Sunnis have realized they can work with us.”
Current estimates show about 35 percent of Iraq’s population is made up of Sunni Muslims. “And they have turned on al-Qaida,” he said.
Cole said the reduction in violence also has encouraged the country’s reconstruction efforts.
“I spoke with a military unit from Tulsa,” he said. “Their job is to help get civic services going again. And they are very popular. Things are changing.”
Yet while he remains optimistic about the war’s pace, Cole said the situation in Iraq is “still very fluid and very fragile.”
“Iraq can break your heart, but it’s still a very dangerous place. I can see the level of American involvement going down. But only if the Iraq people can take advantage of the situation.”
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
COMMENTARY: Rep. Duncan should shut up
Few men of first class ability can afford to let their affairs go to ruin while they fool away their time in Legislatures; but your chattering, one-horse village lawyer likes it, and your solemn ass from the cow countries, who don't know the Constitution from the Lord's Prayer, enjoys it; and these you always find in the Assembly; the one gabble, gabble, gabbling threadbare platitudes and 'give-me-liberty-or give-me-death' buncombe from morning to night, and the other asleep, with his slab-soled brogans set up like a couple of grave-stones on the top of his desk.
— Mark Twain, June, 1866
The sage of Missouri was right.
From the one-horse village lawyer, to the solemn ass from cow country, the idiotic actions of some state lawmakers never cease to amaze me.
And here, in the land of Red Dirt, the small mindedness of some members of our government, has now taken on epic proportions.
Take for example, Rep. Rex Duncan.
Duncan, a Sand Springs Republican, is all bent out of shape because he received a Centennial copy of the Quran from the Governor’s Ethnic American Advisory Council.
“I object to the use of the state Centennial Seal and the state Seal all in an effort to further their religion,” he said to the Associated Press this week.
Rep. Duncan also wrote his colleagues, telling him them he has rejected the gift because, “most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology.”
Okay, I admit I don’t know much about the Muslim faith. But I do believe there is room enough for both Muslims and Christians in our state.
Religious tolerance is a cornerstone of our government.
Except for dudes like ’ol Rex.
The chairwoman of the Governor’s Ethnic American Advisory Council said she received a call from Duncan wondering whether state money was used to buy the books.
She told the Tulsa World newspaper that members of the Muslim community paid for copies of the Quran.
“We are not trying to force anything on anyone,” she said. “This is a peaceful, thoughtful project to introduce ourselves to leaders.”
Not a bad idea.
Send ’em some information which they, hopefully, will read. Then some members of our esteemed legislature just might learn a little more about a different faith.
Or, in Rep. Duncan’s case, you could cuss and spit and throw up your hands and get quoted saying “my comment is that we never hear those 30,000 to 50,000 Muslims opposing the practice of violence on innocent people.”
Smart. Real smart.
Earlier this year, lawmakers received a copy of the Bible sponsored by The Baptist General Convention in Oklahoma.
Duncan didn’t complain about that.
“Mine is proudly on my desk in the Capitol and I don’t think I ever read a part of it that condones the killing of women and children in furtherance of God’s word,” he said. “It’s one of the nicest things I’ve received in my three years in the Legislature.”
Good for him.
He probably needs to re-read that part about love thy neighbor, and the other part about the “do unto others” thingy.
Then, when he’s finished, he just needs to sit down and shut up.
— Mark Twain, June, 1866
The sage of Missouri was right.
From the one-horse village lawyer, to the solemn ass from cow country, the idiotic actions of some state lawmakers never cease to amaze me.
And here, in the land of Red Dirt, the small mindedness of some members of our government, has now taken on epic proportions.
Take for example, Rep. Rex Duncan.
Duncan, a Sand Springs Republican, is all bent out of shape because he received a Centennial copy of the Quran from the Governor’s Ethnic American Advisory Council.
“I object to the use of the state Centennial Seal and the state Seal all in an effort to further their religion,” he said to the Associated Press this week.
Rep. Duncan also wrote his colleagues, telling him them he has rejected the gift because, “most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology.”
Okay, I admit I don’t know much about the Muslim faith. But I do believe there is room enough for both Muslims and Christians in our state.
Religious tolerance is a cornerstone of our government.
Except for dudes like ’ol Rex.
The chairwoman of the Governor’s Ethnic American Advisory Council said she received a call from Duncan wondering whether state money was used to buy the books.
She told the Tulsa World newspaper that members of the Muslim community paid for copies of the Quran.
“We are not trying to force anything on anyone,” she said. “This is a peaceful, thoughtful project to introduce ourselves to leaders.”
Not a bad idea.
Send ’em some information which they, hopefully, will read. Then some members of our esteemed legislature just might learn a little more about a different faith.
Or, in Rep. Duncan’s case, you could cuss and spit and throw up your hands and get quoted saying “my comment is that we never hear those 30,000 to 50,000 Muslims opposing the practice of violence on innocent people.”
Smart. Real smart.
Earlier this year, lawmakers received a copy of the Bible sponsored by The Baptist General Convention in Oklahoma.
Duncan didn’t complain about that.
“Mine is proudly on my desk in the Capitol and I don’t think I ever read a part of it that condones the killing of women and children in furtherance of God’s word,” he said. “It’s one of the nicest things I’ve received in my three years in the Legislature.”
Good for him.
He probably needs to re-read that part about love thy neighbor, and the other part about the “do unto others” thingy.
Then, when he’s finished, he just needs to sit down and shut up.
Martin among those who refuse Quran
OKLAHOMA CITY — Saying he had no “spiritual or scholarly need” for it, Norman state Rep. Scott Martin confirmed Tuesday that he refused a copy of the Quran, the Muslim world’s holy book.
On Monday, a “Centennial” copy of the Quran was offered to all members of the Oklahoma Legislature from the Governor’s Ethnic American Advisory Council. And while many lawmakers accepted the book, at least eight legislators refused the gift, citing religious reasons.
Martin, a Republican, joined at least five other state representatives and two state senators — David Derby of Owasso, Guy Liebmann of Oklahoma City, Mark McCullough of Sapulpa, Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City, Susan Winchester of Chickasha, Rex Duncan of Sand Springs and Senators Randy Brogdon of Owasso and David Myers of Ponca City — who refused to accept copies of the Quran.
“They (the Governor’s task force) sent us an e-mail, asking if we wanted a copy,” Martin said. “And since it wasn’t something that I needed, I kindly declined the offer.”
Martin said he turned down the book for religious reasons.
“I’m a Christian,” he said. “And there’s lots of other religious documents that I don’t have a copy of. But I appreciated them giving us more of a choice.”
State Rep. Rex Duncan, who announced his refusal publicly, said he turned down a copy of the Quran because it advocated killing women and children.
“Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press. Duncan said he objected “to the use of the state Centennial Seal and the state Seal all in an effort to further their (Muslims’) religion.”
However, one religious scholar said the action could be viewed as an insult to the Muslim community.
University of Oklahoma religious studies professor David Vishanoff, who specializes in Islamic studies, said lawmakers were making a “quick judgment” about the Islamic faith and probably haven’t read the book.
“I think they are making the mistake of identifying what they perceive as some Muslims’ belief as what’s in the Quran,” he said. “I don’t think they can find it advocating ‘killing innocent women and children.’”
The Quran, Vishanoff said, condemns infanticide, has a system of rules about the taking of life and urges restraint and forgiveness. And while some parts of the Quran are “hair raising,” Vishanoff said they are subject to interpretation. “It’s a Seventh Century Arabian book. You can say the same thing about the Bible … it’s all in there.”
By refusing the offer, Vishanoff said lawmakers were sending a negative message to the Muslim community.
“If I were in their shoes, I think I would get the message that we don’t really want Islam in our community,” Vishanoff said. “And that’s what they are trying to overcome.”
Oklahoma Muslims have “been making a real effort” to have a visible relationship with Oklahoma’s business and community leaders, he said. “They are an integral and respected part of the Oklahoma community. They are voters and supporters. And they matter.”
But while a few lawmakers passed on their copy of the Quran, at least one Cleveland County lawmaker said he accepted his copy.
Norman Democrat Bill Nations said he, too, was offered a copy of the Quran and he accepted it.
“I did receive a copy,” Nations said. “I fact I already had one.”
Nations said he wasn’t offended by the book, adding that he owned a copy of the Book of Mormon and “about 20” Bibles.
“It’s a matter of an intellectual exercise,” he said. “And understanding what’s going on the world. All Muslims are not our enemies, just some radical ones, which are the problems.”
While he said he had not received the e-mail about the Quran, state Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman, said he would accept a copy if offered. “I didn’t see an e-mail about it, but I would accept one if offered,” Collins said. “I have several friends who are Muslim.”
The controversy comes on the heels of a recent Ramadan dinner hosted by Gov. Brad Henry at the governor’s mansion.
Henry’s spokesman, Paul Sund, said the governor had hosted the dinner for several years. “Like President Bush, he’s hosted a Ramandan dinner for many years.”
At this year’s dinner Henry was presented with a copy of the Quran, Sund said. “No, he didn’t refuse it,” he said. “He accepted it warmly.”
On Monday, a “Centennial” copy of the Quran was offered to all members of the Oklahoma Legislature from the Governor’s Ethnic American Advisory Council. And while many lawmakers accepted the book, at least eight legislators refused the gift, citing religious reasons.
Martin, a Republican, joined at least five other state representatives and two state senators — David Derby of Owasso, Guy Liebmann of Oklahoma City, Mark McCullough of Sapulpa, Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City, Susan Winchester of Chickasha, Rex Duncan of Sand Springs and Senators Randy Brogdon of Owasso and David Myers of Ponca City — who refused to accept copies of the Quran.
“They (the Governor’s task force) sent us an e-mail, asking if we wanted a copy,” Martin said. “And since it wasn’t something that I needed, I kindly declined the offer.”
Martin said he turned down the book for religious reasons.
“I’m a Christian,” he said. “And there’s lots of other religious documents that I don’t have a copy of. But I appreciated them giving us more of a choice.”
State Rep. Rex Duncan, who announced his refusal publicly, said he turned down a copy of the Quran because it advocated killing women and children.
“Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press. Duncan said he objected “to the use of the state Centennial Seal and the state Seal all in an effort to further their (Muslims’) religion.”
However, one religious scholar said the action could be viewed as an insult to the Muslim community.
University of Oklahoma religious studies professor David Vishanoff, who specializes in Islamic studies, said lawmakers were making a “quick judgment” about the Islamic faith and probably haven’t read the book.
“I think they are making the mistake of identifying what they perceive as some Muslims’ belief as what’s in the Quran,” he said. “I don’t think they can find it advocating ‘killing innocent women and children.’”
The Quran, Vishanoff said, condemns infanticide, has a system of rules about the taking of life and urges restraint and forgiveness. And while some parts of the Quran are “hair raising,” Vishanoff said they are subject to interpretation. “It’s a Seventh Century Arabian book. You can say the same thing about the Bible … it’s all in there.”
By refusing the offer, Vishanoff said lawmakers were sending a negative message to the Muslim community.
“If I were in their shoes, I think I would get the message that we don’t really want Islam in our community,” Vishanoff said. “And that’s what they are trying to overcome.”
Oklahoma Muslims have “been making a real effort” to have a visible relationship with Oklahoma’s business and community leaders, he said. “They are an integral and respected part of the Oklahoma community. They are voters and supporters. And they matter.”
But while a few lawmakers passed on their copy of the Quran, at least one Cleveland County lawmaker said he accepted his copy.
Norman Democrat Bill Nations said he, too, was offered a copy of the Quran and he accepted it.
“I did receive a copy,” Nations said. “I fact I already had one.”
Nations said he wasn’t offended by the book, adding that he owned a copy of the Book of Mormon and “about 20” Bibles.
“It’s a matter of an intellectual exercise,” he said. “And understanding what’s going on the world. All Muslims are not our enemies, just some radical ones, which are the problems.”
While he said he had not received the e-mail about the Quran, state Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman, said he would accept a copy if offered. “I didn’t see an e-mail about it, but I would accept one if offered,” Collins said. “I have several friends who are Muslim.”
The controversy comes on the heels of a recent Ramadan dinner hosted by Gov. Brad Henry at the governor’s mansion.
Henry’s spokesman, Paul Sund, said the governor had hosted the dinner for several years. “Like President Bush, he’s hosted a Ramandan dinner for many years.”
At this year’s dinner Henry was presented with a copy of the Quran, Sund said. “No, he didn’t refuse it,” he said. “He accepted it warmly.”
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Fewer students attending Moore Norman Career Tech
While there were more than 138,000 secondary school enrollments in some type of career tech program over the last year — and even though statewide, enrollment is growing — figures at the Moore Norman Technology Center are trending the opposite direction.
And that trend has school officials concerned.
Recent figures from the area’s four main high schools — Norman High School, Norman North High School, Moore High School and Westmoore High School — all show steep declines in secondary enrollment from 2004 to today.
“It’s not an easy solution,” said Susan Gladhill, Moore Norman’s director of educational services. “We don’t think we’re at the point of alarm, but we are concerned, certainly, about addressing this issue.”
During a last month’s Moore Norman Technology Center board meeting, Gladhill presented figures which paint a gloomy picture of the center’s secondary student enrollment over the past few years:
• Westmoore High School — from 90 students in 2004 to just above 50 students last year.
• Moore High School — 150 students in 2005, 200 students in 2006, 160 in 2007.
• Norman North High School —130 students in 2004, less than 100 in 2005, about 115 in 2007.
• Norman High School —140 students in 2003, about 120 in 2007.
And though Gladhill was hesitant to point a finger at any specific reason for the decline, she did say a number of factors contributed to the decrease, including new academic standards passed by the Oklahoma Legislature; the state’s ACE (student exit) test, which goes into effect next year; difficulty with school schedules, and athletics added back into some school’s daily schedule.
“It’s a combination of several things,” she said. “For example, some new legislation limits the number of electives that students can have.”
Because students are required to take more core classes, the number of electives has been reduced and fewer students can take career tech classes. Even so, career tech officials, Gladhill said, “support and encourage” academic rigor in their students.
“We want that academic rigor,” she said. “We support that fully.”
The difficulty seems to lie in scheduling.
When school officials in Moore put athletics back into the school day, the options for those students, Gladhill said, decreased. “It has made it more difficult for some students who want to come here.”
However, Moore school administrators say the change was requested by parents and needed to give students time with their families.
“That change was made at the request of our school patrons,” said Moore Superintendent Deborah Arato. “Before we changed the schedule, we had students who weren’t getting home until late in the evening. They had no family time.”
New curriculum and testing requirements have put public school and career tech officials “between a rock and a hard spot,” Arato said.
“We really need to be sure that we’re sending students out who are prepared for a post secondary education. We know for a fact that students need post secondary education. The onus is upon us. We have to make sure our students have the right education.”
And the issue, she said, is not going to be easy to fix.
“We have people working with career tech officials right now. But we don’t have a solution yet.”
Career tech officials praised the effort.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with how they (Moore officials) are working with us for a solution,” Gladhill said. “And we’re certainly not putting anything on the Legislature, but we’re trying to address the fact that it’s becoming more difficult for students to have a variety of options.”
Paula Bowers, a spokesman for the state Department of CareerTech, agreed.
“We know that that all technology centers are concerned about giving students the opportunity of coming to the center,” Bowers said. “But as students choose and look at what they have to do to graduate, they find more requirements placed on them.”
And despite the changes, statewide enrollment figures are showing an increase.
In 2005, the department recorded 135,359 secondary enrollments in some type of career tech program. Those figures increased to 138,444 in 2006 and 142,804 in 2007.
“Some of the tech centers are doing innovative things,” Bowers said. “Some are going to high schools and others have reduced their three-hour classes to two hours.”
The schools, she said, are working closely with the state’s higher education and common education systems and officials in their local districts.
“Each of our technology centers, hopefully, has a relationship with their area high schools. They are asking what would be advantageous for your child. Career tech is a great option for many students, but they know it’s not for everyone.”
And that trend has school officials concerned.
Recent figures from the area’s four main high schools — Norman High School, Norman North High School, Moore High School and Westmoore High School — all show steep declines in secondary enrollment from 2004 to today.
“It’s not an easy solution,” said Susan Gladhill, Moore Norman’s director of educational services. “We don’t think we’re at the point of alarm, but we are concerned, certainly, about addressing this issue.”
During a last month’s Moore Norman Technology Center board meeting, Gladhill presented figures which paint a gloomy picture of the center’s secondary student enrollment over the past few years:
• Westmoore High School — from 90 students in 2004 to just above 50 students last year.
• Moore High School — 150 students in 2005, 200 students in 2006, 160 in 2007.
• Norman North High School —130 students in 2004, less than 100 in 2005, about 115 in 2007.
• Norman High School —140 students in 2003, about 120 in 2007.
And though Gladhill was hesitant to point a finger at any specific reason for the decline, she did say a number of factors contributed to the decrease, including new academic standards passed by the Oklahoma Legislature; the state’s ACE (student exit) test, which goes into effect next year; difficulty with school schedules, and athletics added back into some school’s daily schedule.
“It’s a combination of several things,” she said. “For example, some new legislation limits the number of electives that students can have.”
Because students are required to take more core classes, the number of electives has been reduced and fewer students can take career tech classes. Even so, career tech officials, Gladhill said, “support and encourage” academic rigor in their students.
“We want that academic rigor,” she said. “We support that fully.”
The difficulty seems to lie in scheduling.
When school officials in Moore put athletics back into the school day, the options for those students, Gladhill said, decreased. “It has made it more difficult for some students who want to come here.”
However, Moore school administrators say the change was requested by parents and needed to give students time with their families.
“That change was made at the request of our school patrons,” said Moore Superintendent Deborah Arato. “Before we changed the schedule, we had students who weren’t getting home until late in the evening. They had no family time.”
New curriculum and testing requirements have put public school and career tech officials “between a rock and a hard spot,” Arato said.
“We really need to be sure that we’re sending students out who are prepared for a post secondary education. We know for a fact that students need post secondary education. The onus is upon us. We have to make sure our students have the right education.”
And the issue, she said, is not going to be easy to fix.
“We have people working with career tech officials right now. But we don’t have a solution yet.”
Career tech officials praised the effort.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with how they (Moore officials) are working with us for a solution,” Gladhill said. “And we’re certainly not putting anything on the Legislature, but we’re trying to address the fact that it’s becoming more difficult for students to have a variety of options.”
Paula Bowers, a spokesman for the state Department of CareerTech, agreed.
“We know that that all technology centers are concerned about giving students the opportunity of coming to the center,” Bowers said. “But as students choose and look at what they have to do to graduate, they find more requirements placed on them.”
And despite the changes, statewide enrollment figures are showing an increase.
In 2005, the department recorded 135,359 secondary enrollments in some type of career tech program. Those figures increased to 138,444 in 2006 and 142,804 in 2007.
“Some of the tech centers are doing innovative things,” Bowers said. “Some are going to high schools and others have reduced their three-hour classes to two hours.”
The schools, she said, are working closely with the state’s higher education and common education systems and officials in their local districts.
“Each of our technology centers, hopefully, has a relationship with their area high schools. They are asking what would be advantageous for your child. Career tech is a great option for many students, but they know it’s not for everyone.”
House passes Cole's water study bill
The House of Representatives passed a proposal by Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole Monday to authorize $900,000 to administer a water feasibility study in order to find future water sources for Norman, Midwest City and Del City.
Now it’s on to the Senate.
“This was a critical step in the process of securing water resources for cities in central Oklahoma,” Cole said in a prepared statement. “Because these areas are growing rapidly, the demand for additional water is only going to get greater as time goes on. I believe it is vital that these needs are anticipated early so that Oklahomans will have access to water as they need it. I am pleased that this legislation has passed the House, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”
H.R. 1337 directs the commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a feasibility study of the amount of water used by the Central Oklahoma Master Conservatory District and the cities served by it.
The study would include possible proposals for drilling additional wells, increasing the storage capacity of Lake Thunderbird and transporting surplus water from outside sources. The primary source of water for the COMCD is Lake Thunderbird.
Over the past several years, the City of Norman has exceeded its annual share of allotted water from the lake.
Cole said he hopes the study will enhance the current and long-term water needs of COMCD and the cities it serves.
The bill is expected to be voted on in the Senate in the near future, officials in Cole’s office said.
Now it’s on to the Senate.
“This was a critical step in the process of securing water resources for cities in central Oklahoma,” Cole said in a prepared statement. “Because these areas are growing rapidly, the demand for additional water is only going to get greater as time goes on. I believe it is vital that these needs are anticipated early so that Oklahomans will have access to water as they need it. I am pleased that this legislation has passed the House, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”
H.R. 1337 directs the commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a feasibility study of the amount of water used by the Central Oklahoma Master Conservatory District and the cities served by it.
The study would include possible proposals for drilling additional wells, increasing the storage capacity of Lake Thunderbird and transporting surplus water from outside sources. The primary source of water for the COMCD is Lake Thunderbird.
Over the past several years, the City of Norman has exceeded its annual share of allotted water from the lake.
Cole said he hopes the study will enhance the current and long-term water needs of COMCD and the cities it serves.
The bill is expected to be voted on in the Senate in the near future, officials in Cole’s office said.
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