Appreciation (A Post About Thanks and Adding Value)

July 22, 2016June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal

It’s a tough stretch for much of #oklaed and those in whom we’ve invested our recent energies.

Primaries seem like so long ago, runoffs are still a month away, and the general elections… oh dear, the general elections.

The Republican National Convention has been a mess so far, and there’s no telling what its Democratic counterpart will be like. Nationally, the ‘Right’ openly despises us while the ‘Left’ suddenly wants to befriend educators over edreformers. Do we run to the guy who beats us or trust the one who keeps cheating on us?

Locally, animosity over policies and posts has spilled offscreen as the provocative becomes personal and the political, omnipresent. I’ve unwittingly conflagrated several one-on-one conversations as I let tone trump substance and forget that the argument is never more important than the person.

Sorry, J.B.

Privately, I hear again and again how whipped people feel – teachers, administrators, parents, bloggers, advocates, candidates… even sitting legislators. It’s not quite despair, but it’s certainly not some new form of radiant hope.

Teachers are stressed as back-to-school nears, and the realities of larger classes, fewer resources, and a haunting lack of actual clarity about just what’s expected THIS year hover over its approach. There’s something… taunting about the realization that – once again – new end-of-instruction tests are being proposed and new guidelines for ‘The Annual Shaming’ via A-F School Report Cards are being introduced and OMG-what-exactly-were-we-fighting-for-how-is-this-new?

Of course, such things seem petty in light of mad loners shooting our best, power continuing to abuse our weakest, and rationalization and cognitive dissonance stamping out the last bases for a “national conversation.” Different lives matter only to specific groups of people, and language is chosen to obscure intent so we don’t have to be honest even with ourselves about the true states of our hearts and minds.

Also, it’s hot. Like, Africa hot. Tarzan couldn’t take this kind of hot.

Still, I believe.

I’d like to take a moment and appreciate what many of you are doing, and how you’re doing it. I’d like to add a different perspective for those of you struggling with your own at the moment. And I’d like to point out an increase in value. An increase in hope, and quality, and style – because of you.

Thank you, so very much, to all of you who ran in hopes of improving our collective situation and came up short in your party’s primaries this season. Your efforts made a statement, and your words and your handshakes and your time made a difference. We may not see it all yet, but you cast your bread upon the water and it will come back, even if it takes many, many days.

You spent your time and money and put yourselves out there, drawing questions and criticisms and sometimes mocking disbelief that you’d even dare think you could make a difference.

I want to assure you that you have, and that you still are, and that anyone who says otherwise is either lying or wrong on an epic scale. And I’m right about this.

Thank you, so very much, to those of you still running – in whatever party – in the sincere conviction that we can do better, and that we don’t have to marginalize, segregate, or bully our way into prosperity for a few at the expense of the whole. You’re still in it, but sometimes secretly envy those you defeated in June – the ones who’ve gone back to their ‘real lives.’

Thank you for sacrificing yourselves and the comfort and security of your families and friends for the good of the rest of us. It matters. It matters whether you win or not, and it matters even if we don’t always agree with you on every little thing. You’ve thrown yourself into the breach, and we cheer you wildly. Illegitimi non carborundum!

Of course we want you to win – it’s something that colors every conversation and nags at every day for me. But even if you don’t, your voice has had and will continue to have an impact. Your efforts are not and will not be in vain. The results we can count and see are important, but they’re only part of the story. Faith, I’m told, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Have faith in what you’re doing.

Thank you, so very much, to those of you advocating on your blogs and on social media and in the press and through personal messages. I write about candidates and positions and like to think that I play a role, but I’m humbled and amazed by colleagues and peers who share their hopes, their fears, their experiences – even their pay stubs – in hopes it will make an issue a bit clearer or a position somewhat more relatable.

I’ll let the rest of you in on a blogger secret – we value and appreciate the kind words, the shares, even the respectful clarifications or disagreements… but we feel the venom and the vitriol sent our way, no matter how small a percentage of the whole. It follows you into those moments just before sleep or jumps you while you’re showering yourself into consciousness the next morning.

Your mind knows the importance of perspective, but your inner dialogues doesn’t want to let that scab heal sometimes.

OK, not me so much. I actually find the abusive feedback dynamic rather bizarre. But the less dysfunctional, more emotionally stable bloggers and advocates, with perspective and souls and better tastes in entertainment – many of them feel it more deeply than you’d think. And I love them, and I thank them. The blogs, the Facebook posts, the candidate lists – the work they do, and the knowledge they share. I adore them.

Thank you, so very much, to those of you who disagree with grace and style. You speak and write to a mutually-defensive group not always known for receiving constructive criticism well, but you speak up anyway because you care about truth. Thank you to those of you who risk backlash because you believe reality is an essential ally to meaningful improvement. Some of you are quite funny, which makes pretty much anything palatable as far as I’m concerned, while others are simply well-spoken and sincere. How do you DO that?

God forbid we ever deteriorate to the point we merely echo one another, broken up only by periodic pats on the back. Thank you for your blunt-but-gracious dissent, and for establishing a tone of mutual respect – the maintenance of which it then becomes our obligation to maintain.

You make me want to think more clearly, and write more gooder. You prompt me to check my attitude – especially when I’m on what I believe to be a righteous tear. Gracious but reasoned dissent forces all of us to become better thinkers.

Once, I even realized I was wrong about something. Not that we want to always go THAT far.

Take care during this stretch of mortal plodding. Stay cool, and drink plenty of water. Love someone it’s hard to love and say something nice to someone annoying.You amaze me, people. You make my part of the walk so much better, and this fallen world slightly more tolerable.

Thank you.

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Upcoming #OklaEd Twitter Chat – Sunday (7/3/16)

June 30, 2016June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal ~ 1 Comment

Blue Cereal is hosting this week’s #OklaEd Twitter Chat, Sunday (7/3/16) from 8:00 – 9:00 CST. All decent human beings or marginally attractive substitutes are welcome, whatever your role in the edu-madness.

You don’t have to prepare, but for those of you who just can’t resist looking ahead, here are the anticipated questions…

I Read The News Today, Oh Boy… (6/5/16)

June 3, 2016June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal

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The 2016 Legislative Session is over, more or less – although we’ll be suffering from the fallout for at least another year.

If you’re aware enough of what’s going on statewide to be annoyed, but haven’t had the time or inclination to read up on every issue, here’s the Blue Cereal Guide to the Latest Oklahoma Clusterfoolery – State Budget Edition. You’re welcome.

The State Budget / Tax Polices

Because “throwing money at a problem doesn’t solve it,” our legislative leadership argues, eliminating all revenue and funding for constititutionally mandated functions MUST be the solution. Oklahoma Logic.

‘Behind Smoky Doors’: Last-minute bills breed public distrust – David Blatt, Oklahoma Policy Institute (6/2/16) – “In May, most of the rules go out the window. Brand-new bills can be introduced, amended, and approved with lightning speed, with little if any opportunity for the public – and most legislators – to understand what’s going on.”

This part of the budget deal may be the greatest threat to Oklahoma’s economy – Gene Perry, Oklahoma Policy Institute (6/2/16) – “The link between education levels and state prosperity is clear. That’s why it is especially troubling that the long-awaited budget proposal from the Oklahoma Legislature and Governor Fallin would decimate funding for higher education.”

Two Things: Not A Flat Budget; Please Vote – Rick Cobb, OKEducationTruths (5/31/16) – This… “budget” our legislature finally threw together at the last minute is a mess, and not even faking it very well.

Oklahoma Makes the Poor Poorer – The New York Times Editorial Board (5/28/16) – Our legislature this session was embarrassing and horrifying enough to grab attention in NEW YORK. Think about that for a moment.

With colleges and universities taking harshest budget cuts, leaders worry about future of higher ed – Kathryn McNutt, The Oklahoman (5/29/16) – Why? Because these schools have been reckless and irresponsible enough to bank some of their resources. Fiscal responsibility is UNFORGIVABLE to the Oklahoma Legislature of 2016.

Where next year’s shortfall starts: Budget counts on $600-$750 million in one-time revenues – David Blatt, Oklahoma Policy Institute (5/27/16) – “Ultimately, the Legislature failed to make those hard choices and instead slapped a bunch of band-aids onto gaping wounds.”

New details: State budget agreement slashes funds for school activities and textbooks – Andrea Eger, The Tulsa World (5/27/16) – And before you ask, yes you can teach w/o textbooks. But that means you need other resources or tech instead – the sorts of things schools usually buy with – wait for it – “textbook money”.

Republicans Willing to Let Oklahoma Burn – Arnold Hamilton, The Journal Record (4/28/16) – The entrenched right wing is willing to take a few lumps if it means clinging to their faith in destroying all public sector spending for their fiscal overlords. It’s almost a religion for them.

Ten Things: OCPA Math – OKEducationTruths (4/19/16) – If you simply make up stuff and choose numbers that sound like they fit, things are actually going pretty well…

The Best Resources For Understanding Why Money Matters To Oklahoma Public Schools – Oklahoma Education Journal (4/20/16) – A links page specific to an important topic, with just enough info to help you find what you need? What a great idea!

The Facts About Oklahoma Education – Oklahoma Education Coalition

Just Teach the Curriculum (Leave That Other Stuff At Home) – Blue Cereal Education (4/16/16) – My take on all this ‘wasteful spending’ on ‘non-teaching positions’ schools are doing, according to those needing a few more distractions.

Oklahoma’s Revenue Options for the Budget Emergency – Oklahoma Policy Institute (4/11/16) – Here’s a crazy place to start: PUT DOWN THE SHOVEL.

Aides, supporting positions proliferate at Oklahoma public schools – Ben Felder, The Oklahoman (4/10/16) – WHY do schools keep hiring people who don’t actually TEACH?! It turns out there are some pretty good reasons…

Why tax increases would be less harmful to Oklahoma’s economy than budget cuts – Gene Perry, Oklahoma Policy Institute (3/7/16)

Oklahoma’s Real Gamblers – Rob Miller, A View From The Edge (3/2/16) – Hint: they’re the ones playing games with YOUR money…

The tax shift rears its head – Gene Perry, Oklahoma Policy Institute (2/16/16) – When tax cuts for the rich don’t work, cut taxes for the rich MORE and go after the poor. What could possibly go wrong?

10th Amendment & #OklaEd – David Burton, Idealistically Realistic (2/11/16) – With States’ Rights comes States’ Responsibilities… this is one of my favorite posts EVER on the subject of state government and public education

Oklahoma state agencies give raises despite executive order – Randy Ellis, The Oklahoman (2/7/16) – This was the trigger for a complete and meltdown on my part. But I was right.

This chart shows why Oklahoma schools are broke… – Lucas, The Lost Ogle (1/26/16) – It’s sad when the humor sites make so much more sense than the ‘experts’ and those in power.

Teacher Pay / Teacher Retention

One way to deal with a shortage of teachers is to crash and burn the budget so we can’t afford more than one adult for every hundred or so kids – not MY favorite solution, but it’s something.

I’m bewildered that the state had to form a 60-member commission to study this issue for a year in order to come up with a few common sense measures (make it easier to move your certification here from other states) and some truly inane ideas (how about some ‘How Great It Is To Teach!’ flyers w/ pictures of happy educators on them?) That’s nothing compared to the ridiculous slew of promises from the Governor and any number of legislators this session that TEACHERS were all getting this GINORMOUS raises because they just LOVE us SO MUCH! It’s prettty hard to insult Oklahoma teachers more than the state leadership normally does, but that pretty much did the trick.

NO EDUCATOR ANYWHERE IN THE STATE believed for three seconds that any of this was even remotely plausible. Now, it’s always difficult to tell when our elected leaders are being cynical to the point of viciousness and when they’re simply so delusional that they probably shouldn’t be left home alone – at least not without removing all sharp objects and turning off the gas. But I for one grew weary of that particular brand of salt being constantly rubbed into our other wounds.

State Could Fall to Bottom in Average Teacher Salaries – Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoma Watch (5/27/16) – “Boren and other supporters acknowledge that a higher sales tax is not the preferred solution to education funding, but say they have no other choice because state lawmakers refuse to address an education crisis that could harm the state for generations.”

Cuts to education spending hurt more than just our children (Guest post: Christiaan Mitchell) – Christiaan Mitchell, Oklahoma Policy Institute (4/21/16)

Teacher pay raise proposals probably going nowhere this session – David Blatt, Oklahoma Policy Institute (2/18/16) – Which is probably better than “we’re cutting your insurance and charging you for rolling chairs but on paper we’ll be able to claim you make more.”

A Plan to Plan to Plan – Rick Cobb, OKEducationTruths (1/25/16) – A $10,000 raise for teachers without any new taxes? That’s… that’s… not how numbers work.

Teacher recruitment legislation not enough to fix Oklahoma’s teacher shortage (Guest Post: Jennifer Job) – Jennifer Job, Oklahoma Policy Institute (12/17/15)

Oklahoma’s teacher shortage is not just about salaries (Guest Post: John Lepine) – John Lepine, Oklahoma Policy Institute (12/14/15)

I know it’s a lot to process, and you don’t have to read it all at once, but this is YOUR money, YOUR state, and YOUR kids’ future – short and long-term. Have a friend do the same, then talk about it and see if you’re coming up with the same interpretations. Heck, get a little circle together and divide them up – an adult version of the ‘jigsaw’ strategy every teacher knows in some form or another.

GET INVOLVED. GET THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU INVOLVED. VOTE LIKE IT MATTERS.

Because, you know… it does and all.

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Open Letter to Legislators: Should You Legislate the Bible?

May 24, 2016June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal ~ 2 Comments

This post is addressed primarily to Oklahoma legislators or other office-holders in my poor, dysfunctional state. Since most of them won’t openly admit they read this blog obsessively – although obviously they must – loyal readers should feel free to send it to them or ask them these questions when calling or visiting their offices. I suspect some of our colleagues in neighboring states might find it relevant as well.

Ask not for whom the blog posts; it posts for thee.

Any Oklahoma politician – current, previous, or aspiring – who wishes to respond is welcome. The comment section is always open, but if you have more than a few hundred words, I welcome you as a Guest Blogger – whether I agree with you or not.

Dear Legislator:

Should you legislate the Bible?

I ask because it seems every time we read about something controversial being pushed through the legislature, the story is accompanied by a quote from the bill’s sponsor blaming God.

We’ve been told that Jesus is against handgun registration, that the Bible frowns on people of different genders using neighboring bathroom stalls, and that while God doesn’t want young ladies to know where babies COME from, He DOES insist they know how magical and special the little critters are up until they’re born, at which point He loses complete interest in them.

Jesus never did like children, as I recall.

Just last year we were assured that God wanted us to fudge our own history in order to play Him up – that He’d overlook our failings if we’d only brag about our national infallibility a bit more boldly. As it says in His Word, “Pride cometh before even more things to be proud of.”

He’s apparently uninterested in our tax policies, health care, or how we treat widows and orphans, but was QUITE worked up about Common Core for fear that someone at some point might read a dirty book – something inconceivable under existing guidelines. There’s simply no good reason to write about lust, rape, family dysfunction, or other perversion; such things suggest we are a fallen people in need of redemption. Better we stick to wholesome, happy stories like those in the Bible.

Our Legislators seem to have difficulty distinguishing between Yahweh, the “I Am”, and Tinkerbell, whose very existence hangs by the thread of our applause. Other times they treat the Lord Their God as a sort of corporate sponsor, demanding more patches and stickers pushing His brand or He’ll withdraw His funding. Neither makes sense to me based on the Bible I remember from my days of faith, so I’m hoping you can help me clarify.

Should you legislate the Bible?

If not, would you maybe briefly address what role faith should play for public office-holders in an intensely religious state such as ours? After that, thank you for your time – we’re good.

If so, would you please explain how this is consistent with the First Amendment and established Case Law regarding separation of church and state? How do you justify citing the Holy Book of one specific faith – one whose meaning is regularly debated even by those who accept it as divine – to make secular law?

How do you reconcile your Oath of Office (“I… do solemnly swear… that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma…”) with elevating your personal theology above either constitution? Did you lie when you took the oath, or do you consider yourself above keeping your word? If you believe the Bible is a higher authority than secular law, shouldn’t you have objected to taking this oath as a matter of principle?

If you support legislating the Bible, could you give us an idea of which parts you believe are appropriate to be written into secular law?

There’s been quite an obsession lately with having the Ten Commandments posted at the Capitol. Maybe we could start there.

One – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Should this be secular law? No ‘gods’ before the Jewish god? How might we enforce that?

Two – “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…”

This one’s tricky. God isn’t apparently opposed to statues in general, only those which become objects of such obsession that the symbol takes focus off relationship with the divine – ceremony over substance, as it –

Oh! Um… guess I answered my own question there.

Awkward.

Three – “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” For some reason this is commonly interpreted as exclusively about swearing. Sounds to me it pretty clearly includes those who claim to be acting in God’s name for selfish ends.

Four – “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns…”

Why is this not law? This one would be so easy. And obviously it’s important to God – he made sure this was one of the TOP TEN, while stuff like homosexuality or handgun regulation didn’t even make the list. I assume you’re working on a bill of some sort…?

Five – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” I’m open to suggestions on this one.

Six – “You shall not murder.” Hey, this is a good one! This is already against the law, right? Score one for the Commandments!

Seven – “You shall not commit adultery.” Biblically this includes divorce and remarriage. How many of your peers in the legislature are on their second spouse? How many have had pre- or extra-marital sex? I’m asking because, as with stores being closed on Saturdays, God obviously considered this one WAY more important than some of the stuff being legislated in His name. I just wondered why this one keeps getting skipped.

Eight – “You shall not steal.” Too many easy jokes to be made here when the state is involved. Instead, we’ll count this one as another win for Commandments as Secular Statute. That’s what, two?

Nine – “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” So… lying about someone else? Like, how you get elected, I guess? Or the various political games which are considered the norm ‘round those parts? Or the way various demographics or professions are caricaturized across the state and the nation, not because it’s true but in order to justify mistreating them?

Hello?

Ten – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Coveting is like desiring, or lusting, yes? But in a negative way? I’m not sure how you legislate away want. We seem intent on creating it, actually.

There are entire books in the Old Testament dedicated to rules and laws – would you clarify which you believe should be enforced today? Incest is in there, and still a ‘no-no’ all these years later. Eating shrimp is also a severe offense – why are we letting that slide? Homosexuality is arguably frowned on in the Old Testament, as is wearing mixed fabrics or allowing women to go about their business in the community while they’re on their period. Should we pick and choose, or just put all three into one bill?

Finally – and please, pardon my ignorance – why is it that nothing from the New Testament ever seems to be cited as justification for state legislation? Do we not believe the New Testament any longer, or is there something else I’m missing?

Liberals love to talk about Jesus’ treatment of children and the poor and such when it’s time to make public policy, at which point we’re firmly assured by those in power that such issues are best left to the church, the home, and private agencies. Could you help me understand why the ‘Thou Shalt Not’s are so essential, while anything helpful to the hungry, thirsty, foreign, poor, or sick – are clearly off-limits?

I wish there’d been professional law-makers and interpreters around while Jesus was physically walking the earth. They could have had these sorts of conversations and – assuming someone was willing to devote some papyrus and ink to recording them – we’d have a MUCH clearer understanding of how this whole law/grace balance is supposed to work.

Forgive my not being more up-to-date on my Bible scholarship. I’m sure there are good reasons to ignore Matthew 25:31-46 while focusing on the extensive time Jesus spent worrying about bathrooms, sexual immorality, handgun restrictions, and inadequate border patrol. That’s why I’m asking.

The most likely explanation is that I’m missing something obvious to you and your legislative peers. Otherwise, the rhetoric coming for OKC over the past several years would be nothing but a stream of self-serving cynicism, glaring contradictions, and rampant hypocrisy.

I look forward to better understanding this complex and emotional issue. Thank you for your time.

Across The Aisle

May 19, 2016June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal ~ 1 Comment

Since late December, I’ve been doing my best to profile sitting legislators and introduce education-friendly candidates running for state office in 2016. My critiques of sitting legislators have been diverse, but I’m pretty much only highlighting new candidates I support.

This may not be ‘fair’, but I’m not a news source – I’m an education blog. I advocate. Like a mofo.

Several of you have noticed that this sometimes means profiling or linking to multiple candidates in the same district. Occasionally they’re even in the same party – competitors in the State Primaries next month, on June 28th.

Am I that confused? That unbiased? Pulled that many different directions?

I won’t argue with confused, and I’m definitely biased. But the issue isn’t different directions – quite the contrary. I’m all about One Direction.

I want candidates who are likely to be good for public education. I don’t know all of them personally, but I’ve read through their rhetoric, their promises, their backgrounds, and made the best calls I can. I’ve allowed many of them to respond in their own words to questions related to education and funding – even poodles, if I can draw them in on that part.

Whatever else you can say about the folks trying to kill public ed in Oklahoma, they don’t disguise their intentions very well. Once you get past ‘I Just Loooooove Smurtness!’ their rhetoric screams ‘ALEC Paid Me To Say This’ and ‘I Still Haven’t Realized That Glenn Beck Is Satire.’

It’s certainly possible we might not get exactly what we’ve paid for with every edu-candidate successfully elected this November, but I feel good about my choices overall.

Sometimes there are no candidates in a district about which I feel very much hope. Other times, there are several. After the primaries, there will be fewer. It’s just how things work.

Senate District 37 is one of the districts in which many people are running. Seven, at last count. Of those, I’ve profiled two – Lloyd Snow, Democrat, and Brian Jackson, Republican. I wholeheartedly endorse BOTH of them for purposes of state primaries. If they both make it through – and I hope they do – we’ll go from there.

Why? Because while they disagree on many other issues, they’re both strong advocates for public education in Oklahoma. They both consider it a priority. And they both know what they’re talking about when it comes to teachers, kids, and edu-slation.

So yeah – I support them both. As do they.

See, Jackson and Snow have actually campaigned together a number of times, knocking on doors and talking to voters. Their campaign Facebook pages and Twitter accounts regularly send shout-outs to one another. They’re even nice to each other when no one’s watching.

I realize there will eventually be limits to this warm fuzziness. At some point someone will win that seat and six other people won’t. If they were both in office (from different districts), there would be bills over which they’d disagree – perhaps vigorously. There would be times their parties would play reindeer games in order to accomplish some greasy goal or other. It’s the nature of the beast.

But is it SO crazy to hope that offsetting these differences are areas of genuine cooperation and understanding? Was it SO long ago that legislators were able to debate across the aisle, then drink across the barbeque grill while their kids tore up someone’s yard and ruined their new cargo pants?

Some apparently think so. One of the other candidates from that district posted this on her Campaign Facebook page a few weeks ago:

While I’m normally humble and demure, I found this, well… horrifying.

Barely polite words were exchanged.

I don’t think Ms. Patterson is a bad person. She wasn’t even the one initially responding on her account. But that last phrase really captures something familiar to those of us weary of political realities, doesn’t it?

Supporting public education, or generally agreeing with someone in the other party about even a single priority, is “forfeiting.” It’s “unethical” and “deceiving to the whole community.”

We all know that nationally, partisan vitriol overrides all other considerations. President Obama could discover a cure for cancer tomorrow, made only out of discarded potato peels, and Congress would shut it down out of spite. I have no doubt a Democratically-controlled Congress will be just as contrary when President Trump tries to free us from the ridiculous constraints of the first 19 Amendments.

But surely we don’t have to emulate that at the state level? I don’t want to trot out all the Pro-klahoma clichés that come up every time someone needs a hand from the community, but come on – this is the freakin’ Midwest. Let’s not be dillweeds about everything.

The conversation continued, more or less civilly, until I wrapped it up with something I thought was both pithy and hilarious.

My wife hates it when I’m so obviously amused with myself like this. That’s unfortunate, because it happens A LOT.

The point I was trying to make, potentially humorously, was that by making claims with which we both agreed, Ms. Patterson (having eventually seized the keyboard from her minions) had violated her own standards of political legitimacy. That’s an absurd measuring stick, of course, which was where the whole exchange started.

The entire conversation was deleted shortly thereafter. Too bad – I thought it was interesting.

I have nothing against Paula Patterson. She’s probably in the majority on this one. She took a cute shot at something her opponents were doing which seemed silly, and this crazy interloper on Facebook (me) made a big thing of it and OMG-who-lets-these-people-on-social-media-anyway?!

Politics and game-playing shape everything at the national level, and far too much at the state Capitol. I’m not a deeply entrenched insider, but I catch enough of the behind-the-curtains shenanigans to know that parties jump ship on their own bills, politicians vote against their own ideas, press releases are press released and statements are stated OFTEN just to mess with the other party or manipulate public perception.

It’s ridiculous. And maddening for the handful of folks up there trying to do real good.

I don’t expect it to stop just because we get a few educators elected. I certainly don’t expect it to change just because I write about it and do my best to rile up all Eleven of my Faithful Followers.

But we can fight it, at least. We can occasionally step away from it and try to model how things COULD work. How they SHOULD work.

It’s not selling out your party or your values to hear what the other side is saying. It’s not deceptive to agree on a few fundamentals. Both parties, for example, are against murdering someone for cupcakes. I mean, I assume – it’s not in their platforms or anything. But as far as I can infer, neither side thinks killing someone in cold blood for baked goods is acceptable behavior.

Is that a partisan issue? An unethical compromise? Is that another example of ‘big government overreach’? Or is it simply something so fundamental that they don’t feel the need to argue about it?

Public education should be a priority for every candidate from every party. We can argue about how to best make it more gooder – consolidation or testing or pay raises or charters or magic. We should be arguing about it – that’s why we have a two-party system.

But how amazing would it be if we could at least all agree that it IS important? That it’s WORTH arguing about? That we’ve not done a very good job on this topic legislatively, and it needs a major revisit?

How awesome could it be if we’d agree that what matters most is helping all Oklahoma students, whatever their color, religion, or income level, and without concern for their parents’ political persuasion? How much good could we accomplish if we started with ‘what are your ideas and why do you think they’ll work?’ instead of ‘what’s your party?’

That’s all Snow and Jackson are doing. They’re not campaigning to conquer their opponents, or to better serve their fiscal overlords, or to lay foundations for their future political careers.

They’re campaigning – sometimes together – because they believe our kids matter. Ethically, economically, culturally, and inherently – our kids matter.

Is that truly so very controversial?

RELATED POST: #OklaEd Call To Action (It’s Time)