Oklahoma’s top education official is calling for an educator’s teaching certificate to be revoked after she gave students access to books restricted under a new state law.
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Oklahoma’s top education official is calling for an educator’s teaching certificate to be revoked after she gave students access to books restricted under a new state law.
Image of Gonalo Ribeiro / EyeEm / Getty
Oklahoma’s top education official wants to strip a former teacher of a teacher’s certificate after she tried to give students access to books that could be banned in schools under a new state law.
In a letter he tweeted on WednesdayOklahoma Education Secretary Ryan Walters has called on the state board of education to revoke the teaching credential of Summer Boismier, a former teacher at Norman High School.
Days earlier, Boismier had resigned from the school following a complaint from a parent alleging that Boismier had made political comments in the classroom.
Based on the Norman RecordBoismier put paper on the bookshelf in her class with the message, “Books that the state doesn’t want you to read,” in response to HB 1775, a State law enacted in May that limits what public school educators can say about race and gender.
Boismier also posted a QR code directing students to the Brooklyn Public Library Books have not been banned from the projectgiving young people nationwide access to books that might be banned in their schools.
Republican-led states like Oklahoma increasingly ban specific books or try to limit discussion about topics like race and sex in schools.
Boismier declined NPR’s request for comment on Walters’ call for his teaching credential to be revoked.
She was before tell Gothamist that posting QR codes to her 10th graders was an attempt to allow them to read state-restricted materials.
“I see this as an opportunity for my kids, who are having their stories hidden, to follow that directive,” she said. “Nowhere in my directive does it say we can’t put QR codes on the wall.”
Wes Moody, a spokesman for Norman Public Schools, said the issue did not revolve around the Boismier QR codes displayed in the classroom, but did not specify what the problem was. One statement from district Alleged that Boismier made “personal political statements” and performed a “political performance” in the classroom.
But Walters, in his letter, suggested that Boismier gave the student access to “prohibited and sexually explicit” material – without giving specifics – and cited that as a reason to collect information. her teaching certificate back. “There’s no place for a teacher with liberal politics in the classroom,” he said, adding that officials must “make sure she doesn’t go to another district and do the same thing.”
Walters did not respond to NPR’s request for an interview.
Rob Crissinger, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Department of Education, told NPR that the department does not currently plan to apply to revoke Boismier’s teaching credential.
“There is a process in place and we understand Norman is looking at this at the local level,” says Crissinger. “Based on their assessment, we will proceed accordingly but there is no reason to speculate anything regarding Norman Public Schools until the conclusion of their local review.”
Moody said Norman High School students never had access to pornographic material and added that the district had no response to Walters’ letter.
The district, in its statement about Boismier’s resignation, said several colleagues shared her concerns about HB 1775. “Like many educators, teachers have concerns related to HB 1775. censorship and deletion of books by the Oklahoma state legislature,” the statement said. “However, as expected of us, we want our classroom to be a place where ALL students feel welcome.”
If Boismier faces any disciplinary action from the state board of education, she will be the first teacher to do so for violating HB 1775, according to NPR KOSU member station.
Linda E. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Public Library, said in a statement to NPR that the library continues to support Boismier.
“The democratic principles on which both our nation and our public libraries are founded include the right of every individual to seek information from all points of view,” Johnson said. “The Brooklyn Public Library stands firmly with Summer Boismier and all those who advocate free speech, intellectual freedom, and the right to read.”
