WHAT’S NEXT IN HIS FIGHT. SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS SAYS HIS FIGHT TO GET BOOKS LIKE THESE OUT OF SCHOOLS ISN’T OVER. NOW, ALTHOUGH THE STATE SUPREME COURT SIDED WITH EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN A LAWSUIT, WALTERS SAYS HE PLANS TO ANNOUNCE AN ACTION PLAN MOVING FORWARD THIS WEEK. THIS SUPREME COURT RULING FAVORED EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN A FIGHT OVER WHO DECIDES WHAT CAN GO INTO SCHOOL LIBRARIES. LAST WEEK, EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAID THIS DECISION PROTECTS THE SCHOOL BOARD’S AS THEY’RE THE ONES MAKING THE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW BOOKS ARE PICKED. NOW, WALTERS WANTS THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS. THE SAME DAY AS THE GENERAL ELECTION. HE SAYS THAT WILL INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT. SO PARENTS WHO WANT TO BAN BOOKS WILL BE BE HEARD. PARENTS HAVE BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR. THEY ARE SO OUTRAGED OVER THAT SUPREME COURT RULING. BUT SOME PARENTS TOLD KOCO BANNING BOOKS ISN’T THE ANSWER. HISTORY SHOWS US THAT NO GOOD SOCIETY COMES FROM BANNING BOOKS, SUPERINTEN DENT WALTERS SAYS HIS GOAL IS TO REMOVE PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL FROM OKLAHOMA CLASSROOMS. NOW, HE SAYS HE ALSO WANTS TO REMOVE BOOKS THAT FOCUS ON LGBT Q PLUS VISIBILITY. THE REALITY IS, IS WE’VE GOT DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, EDMOND DECIDED THEY WANTED TO BE EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WANT TO BE THE FACE OF GETTING GENDER QUEER AND FLAMER BACK IN SCHOOLS. YET SOME PARENTS SAY THE DECISION OF WHICH BOOKS SHOULD BE PULLED IS BEING MADE BLINDLY. I THINK INSTEAD OF JUST MAKING ASSUMPTIONS, YOU SHOULD REALLY READ THE BOOK AND SEE WHAT’S BEING DISCUSSED. NOW. SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS SAYS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS PLAN MOVING FORWARD IS EXPECTED THIS WEEK. SO WE’RE LOOKING AT WHAT ALL OF OUR OPTIONS ARE BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, NO KID SHOULD HAVE PORNOGRAPHY IN THEIR CLASSROOM. NO KID PARENTS SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT GOING ON IN THEIR KI
State Superintendent Ryan Walters' fight to ban books at Edmond Public Schools isn't over
Last week, the State Supreme Court ruled that the Oklahoma State Department of Education doesn't have the authority over school libraries
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Updated: 6:17 PM CDT Jun 19, 2024
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters said the fight over banning books at Edmond Public Schools is far from done.Last week, the Oklahoma State Supreme Court ruled that the Oklahoma State Department of Education doesn't have authority over school libraries. Despite the high court siding with Edmond Public Schools in a lawsuit, Walters said he plans to announce an action plan for what's next.Edmond Public Schools officials said the decision protects the school board since it's the one making decisions about how books are picked."Today's decision protects our locally elected school board's role in creating policies that determine how library materials are selected and reviewed," Edmond Public Schools said in a statement last week.Walters now wants the state legislature to make school board elections the same day as the general election. He said that will increase voter turnout so parents who want to ban books will be heard."Parents have been crystal clear they are so outraged over that Supreme Court ruling," Walters said.But some parents have told KOCO 5 that banning books isn't the answer."History shows us no good society comes from banning books," Lori Dickinson-Black, the creator of the Banned Book Club, said.Walters said his goal is to remove "pornographic material" from Oklahoma classrooms. He also wants to remove books that focus on LGBTQ-plus visibility."The reality is, we've got districts – Edmond decided they wanted to be – Edmond Public Schools wanted to be the face of getting (the books) 'Gender Queer' and 'Flamer' back in schools," Walters said.Some parents, however, said the decision of which books should be pulled is being made blindly."I think instead of making assumptions, you should really read the book and see what is being discussed," Dickinson-Black said.Walters added that an announcement of his plan moving forward is expected this week."We're looking at what all of our options are because, ultimately, no kid should have pornography in their classroom," Walters said. "No kids, parents should be worried about that going on in their kids' school." Top Headlines Manhunt underway for suspect sought in connection with multiple Oklahoma homicides Driver taken to hospital after crash involving 2 semitrailers on I-40 in southeast OKC, OHP says Riley Strain's cause of death confirmed after final autopsy results are released Rep. Tom Cole touts support for Trump after winning Republican primary for 4th Congressional District Oklahoma Election Results: June 18 primary elections
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters said the fight over banning books at Edmond Public Schools is far from done.
Last week, the Oklahoma State Supreme Court ruled that the Oklahoma State Department of Education doesn't have authority over school libraries. Despite the high court siding with Edmond Public Schools in a lawsuit, Walters said he plans to announce an action plan for what's next.
Edmond Public Schools officials said the decision protects the school board since it's the one making decisions about how books are picked.
"Today's decision protects our locally elected school board's role in creating policies that determine how library materials are selected and reviewed," Edmond Public Schools said in a statement last week.
Walters now wants the state legislature to make school board elections the same day as the general election. He said that will increase voter turnout so parents who want to ban books will be heard.
"Parents have been crystal clear they are so outraged over that Supreme Court ruling," Walters said.
But some parents have told KOCO 5 that banning books isn't the answer.
"History shows us no good society comes from banning books," Lori Dickinson-Black, the creator of the Banned Book Club, said.
Walters said his goal is to remove "pornographic material" from Oklahoma classrooms. He also wants to remove books that focus on LGBTQ-plus visibility.
"The reality is, we've got districts – Edmond decided they wanted to be – Edmond Public Schools wanted to be the face of getting (the books) 'Gender Queer' and 'Flamer' back in schools," Walters said.
Some parents, however, said the decision of which books should be pulled is being made blindly.
"I think instead of making assumptions, you should really read the book and see what is being discussed," Dickinson-Black said.
Walters added that an announcement of his plan moving forward is expected this week.
"We're looking at what all of our options are because, ultimately, no kid should have pornography in their classroom," Walters said. "No kids, parents should be worried about that going on in their kids' school."
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