By Fox23.com News Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY — Several Oklahoma lawmakers issued a statement discussing their concerns about the recent student walkouts and protests against ICE that have been occurring across the state.
Over the past two days, walkouts have occurred at Nathan Hale High School, Mustang High School and Jenks High School, along with various other schools in the state.
Listed below are the Oklahoma lawmakers who joined together to issue a statement about the concerns they have regarding these student protests.
State Representatives:
- Rep. Molly Jenkins (R-Coyle)
- Rep. Jim Olen (R-Roland)
- Rep. Jim Shaw (R-Chandler)
- Rep. Kevin West (R-Moore)
- Rep. Gabe Woolley (R-Broken Arrow)
State Senators:
- Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin)
- Sen. Brian Guthrie (R-Bixby)
- Sen. Shane Jett (R-Shawnee)
- Sen. Julie McIntosh (R-Porter)
- Sen. Dana Prieto (R-Tulsa)
You can read the entirety of the lawmakers’ joint statement below:
“Several student walkouts have taken place during regular school hours at public schools across our state. While we respect the rights of individuals to express their views, we are concerned when these actions occur during instructional time and appear to target law enforcement officers and federal agents who are carrying out lawful duties. That risks undermining respect for the rule of law, disrupting the educational environment and sending a troubling message about civic responsibility.
We are particularly mindful of the safety of students and the protection of parental authority. Parents have a right to know where their children are during the school day. We question whether students who left class had written parental permission and sincerely hope no student was allowed to leave school property without clear consent from a parent or guardian.
Instructional time is funded by taxpayers for the purpose of educating our children. If students are permitted to be outside the classroom or off campus during the school day, it should only occur with parental knowledge and approval. Schools exist to educate students and to work alongside parents, and taxpayer resources should not be used to facilitate political demonstrations.
No adult should be using school time or school property to encourage students to oppose law enforcement or engage in political activism. Law enforcement officers and federal agents protect our communities and maintain public safety. Our public schools should remain focused on providing a safe, orderly and respectful learning environment that prioritizes education, student well-being and strong parental involvement.”
