Here’s What To Expect At Your Public School in Oklahoma
The school year is about to kick off in Oklahoma and we want to make sure you're prepared. If your student is new to the Oklahoma Public School system, there are a few things you should know beforehand.
1. Oklahoma Still Uses Corporal Punishment
Every year in Oklahoma, you'll find a special slip in the enrollment paperwork while signing your child up for classes - will you allow your child to receive corporal punishment?
@theiepstrategist Are you for or against it? Is your state on the list? #TheIEPStrategist #specialeducationalneeds #advocate #IEP #iepmeetings #ADHD #ParentsOfTikTok #504plan #IEPAdvocate #educationadvocate #discipline #CapCut ♬ original sound - Kim Kizito, M.Ed Advocate
Oklahoma is still one of the 17 states that practices corporal punishment. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, corporal punishment is "a discipline method in which a supervising adult deliberately inflicts pain upon a child in response to a child's unacceptable behavior and/or inappropriate language."
Not all schools use it, or use it often. According to a study in 2016, only a small amount of districts used corporal punishment on more than 25% of their students. Pay attention and ask questions to the schools' personell - decide carefully when filling out the enrollment paperwork.
2. Free Opportunities for Tribal Members
Oklahoma, having one of the largest Native American populations in the country, often tries to cater to continuing Native American heritage. The state's ability sometimes depends on the tribe that you're with. But generally, Native American students (on or off a reservation) can get assistance with:
I remember, personally, getting to take a short time each week with the other tribal children in my school and learn about Indian history, artwork and making various projects.
It's important to remember that your tribe is also very willing to help, often giving out free school supplies before the year starts. If you are Native, reach out to your tribe to see what they may have available to help the year go by.
3. Bullying Is Very Real
Last year, a study found that Oklahoma was on the list for the states with the worst bullying problems in the country, coming in at #9.
Ironically enough, Oklahoma has about 11 laws in place to prevent bullying; how effective they are is still uncertain, since students are still experiencing online bullying, physical fights and verbal abuse by their peers.
If you're planning on sending your child to a public school in Oklahoma, it's probably a good idea to practice a lot of open communication and make sure you're checking in often.
4. Older Generation of Teachers
In Oklahoma, you'll notice that most of our teachers fall under the same category: females between 30 to 49 years old.
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Unfortunately, teaching in Oklahoma has seen better days. In recent years, with the economic hardships the country has been facing, teachers have felt the brunt of the education system weight - making it difficult to recruit new ones.
@kirbymacks I dont know about yall, but i am still going to teach my heart out: to help kids learn to read and be kind and love learning every single day ♀️♀️ #teachersoftiktok #education #oklahomacheck #vote #educator ♬ original sound - Nate️
Teachers in Oklahoma, on average, work for about $12.96 an hour. Make sure you treat your child's teacher kindly for a successful year.
5. We're Not Doing Our Best
Unfortunately, Oklahoma's public school systems are still at the bottom of the education list. This year, the sooner state was ranked 49th out of 50 states.
According to the study from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, there are a few issues that make our educational system this bad, and they unfortunately have gotten worse:
- 57% of children between 3 and 4 are not enrolled in school
- 76% of fourth graders are not proficient in reading
- 84% of eighth graders are not proficient in math
- 20% of high schoolers are not graduating on time
Hopefully these notes will help you choose the best situation for you and your child this coming school year.
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