| Just 24 hours after sharp criticism came in from parents and community leaders, the State Department of Education relented on Epic Virtual Charter School's request to let their teachers provide telephonic instruction to families enrolled in home-based virtual charter schools. The retraction of the department's earlier prohibition on virtual instruction also allows innovative local school districts to launch and bolster their own online instruction options. Local school superintendents had complained in a conference call to State Superintendent, Joy Hofmeister, that Epic might gain massive new enrollees if they remained in session while the old-mode of instruction was shut down for health concerns. Hofmeister is quoted as responding with a statement of agreement, saying; "..that would be essentially 'price gouging' [if Epic continues, uninterrupted]. But Hofmeister's narrative of 'all districts adopting a uniform approach to the crisis' is viewed by critics we spoke to, as just a thinly veiled effort to suppress children from getting an education because it would undermine the old-guard institutions. |  Despite no health concerns preventing, Epic and other virtual charter schools were ordered to stop teaching students while other districts are closed (but still gathering students for free community meals). |
| What outraged conservatives even further was another announcement by Hofmeister, that all feeding programs must continue, uninterrupted. It is seen as just another example of socialism and social engineering being the top priority of the entire state public education industry. Hofmeister says that "a teacher can't take a student's emails for help with math, but by golly we gotta gather up these kids for meals!".  | Why Wait 2 Weeks More?What remains a mystery is why Hofmeister isn't immediately allowing virtual teaching this coming week? We reached out to some virtual charter administrators for details about the teachers effected. We're told that they are being paid, but because of Hofmeister's current prohibitions, these certified teachers can't even take online continuing education units (CEU's) to enhance their professional skills and get recertified with the state. No company could stay in business with this kind of inefficiency and waste of manpower resources. But it seems to be rewarded by the teachers unions which effectively rule the state's education bureaucracy. To that point we remind our citizens of the corrupt dark money narrative which picked Hofmeister and funded her primary election victory over the Republican incumbent. It's clear that conservatives never had any control over Oklahoma's public school empire. The only thing close to rescuing our children from this dark empire, is to enroll them in a charter school or pay for their education in some private or home education option. Epic is by far the most effective and most popular vehicle for families who want their kids to continue the course of real and useful education. And using modern technologies for personalized instruction at a personalized pace, is a quick way to attain mastery at the skills which prepare a child for a productive life. |
