Focusing on Education: State should pay for teachers and schools, not national image
By Jeff Funk, Enid News & Eagle
The Oklahoma State Education Department is seeking a contractor to manage national media appearances in what seems to be an effort to boost State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ national profile — and do so at taxpayer expense.
That’s a horrible idea.
Oklahoma Watch reported last week a company was being sought to provide print and digital opinion pieces to national media outlets, coordinate national events and appearances for executive staff, write speeches and handle communications. What does the Education Department want for its money? A minimum of three op-eds, two speeches and 10 media bookings per month, records show.
Wow! How is that going to benefit Oklahoma students, teachers and schools?
Walters, now in his first year as state schools superintendent, already is a frequent guest on conservative radio and television shows. Last week, Walters announced he was joining Donald Trump’s presidential re-election campaign team.
Clearly Walters has political ambitions. He’s a great communicator, and education is a topic of great concern for many Oklahomans and many Americans. But Oklahoma taxpayers should not have to pay for Walters’ image and visibility on the national stage. Private donors and political action committees can do that.
No, Oklahoma tax money for education needs to be used for education... of Oklahoma students. Oklahoma K-12 schools and teachers are not exactly at the top of the regional list when it comes to overall state funding. Far from it. The idea of boosting the image of state education executives at the expense of local schools, teachers and students is outrageous.
Ryan Walters is free to pursue his national political ambitions using private donations. But, he might first consider what more he could be doing to improve public education here in Oklahoma. There’s a lot of work to be done away from the cameras and microphones. That’s his real job.
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