Before we get started, I’d like to offer my deepest, sorry-but-not-sorry apology for TLO’s lack of round the clock, “click me! click me!” coverage of the Teachers Walkout. Here are two good excuses:
1. TLO is not a traditional for-profit news site. Although we occasionally break stories, we like to document, digest and recap events from the sidelines. It’s our niche and something we do well, but a constantly changing and developing news item like the the Teachers Walkout isn’t very conducive to that style. It seems like every time I’d develop an angle or idea for a post, something would come along to change it. Now that things are winding down, we can step in and do our thing.
2. My girlfriend and I will be welcoming our baby Harper to the world sometime in the next 1 – 30 days. I’ve been working a lot behind the scenes to get this site, and my life, ready for that moment. In addition to that, I turn 40 today. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
With all that going on, I thought it would be fun to pull a page from the Found Ogle’s playbook and let our readers provide some easy content for me. Last night, I posted the following question on Twitter for our new “Your 2 Rants” feature:
What are your hot takes on OEA calling for an end to the Teacher Walkout? Victory? Defeat? Digestive issues from too much free pizza? Let us know for tomorrow’s edition of “Your 2 Rants.”
— The Lost Ogle (@TheLostOgle) April 13, 2018
We got a pretty good stack of replies. Check out some of my favorite responses in our new series “Your 2 Rants.”
Feels very similar to Thunder basketball- we can have the lead and the momentum and then choke in the 4th quarter
— Kaylie McAllister (@kayymcallister) April 13, 2018
OEA does not speak for the majority of us. They hopped on the coattails of a movement started by teachers and have used it to stay relevant. Alicia Priest talks out of both sides of her mouth and can no longer keep track of her lies…pure word vommit. #AnotherFallinTroll
— #ThunderUp (@coacht4christ) April 13, 2018
should have called it quit last week if they were going to end it today. Would have ended on a much higher note. Now, the OEA has their own turning against them and everyone else.
— Matthew Gaylor (@MatthewGaylor) April 13, 2018
Teachers got bamboozled
— Sean Lawson (@benlawson420) April 13, 2018
Oea is trying to be relevant. They were never in charge. 40,000 teachers have enough leverage to get anything they want-if they’re united.
— Jim Wilson (@senwilson) April 13, 2018
A lot of very stable geniuses on both sides.
— Bob 🐷 📎 (@_elpuerco) April 13, 2018
Tough call. Testing is looming but when Coburn offered to kill our raises, we should’ve ramped back up and demanded legislation EARMARKED for Education. I feel like we helped okleg get their work done but at the end of the day, what $$ was ADDED?
— Regina Kenton (@R_Kenton) April 13, 2018
OEA does not have unlimited funds. I’m ok with deciding it was time to change tactics. It is a marathon not a sprint.
— Betty B Hancock (@BettyBowenArt) April 13, 2018
I am afraid that the OEA/teachers did not take into consideration that they weren’t dealing with “normal”people. The majority #okleg would do absolutely anything to “win” They wanted to pass Step-Up to please their bosses…didn’t happen
— Gaylan Oliver (@grayoliver) April 13, 2018
OEA made the teacher movement look weak every time they contradicted their own message. I think most teachers just looked at each other like who gave that lady the mic.
— Scribbler (@SunflowerPoet) April 13, 2018
— Kristin O’Dell (@mathandsushi) April 13, 2018
Thoughts and prayers, Daddy. Thoughts and prayers.
Kudo’s to the little ground gained the Teachers got for their efforts, but Major Props to the teachers for doing something I didn’t think could happen-the light was turned on and the moronic elected reps are like roaches scurrying for safety. The complete shooting themselves in the foot over and over again has raised hope the days of a guaranteed win if you run an R by your name looks to be ending. The number of the maniacal reps choosing to quit or not run again is encouraging. Maybe, just maybe we will get back to a multi-party system.
Mary Fallin and those in the legislature during her term can proudly proclaim:
WORST GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE IN THE HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA-BAR NONE!
They are all disgusting and made it clear they are not capable of doing their jobs. Kick them out now.
Mary Fallin might as well have spit into the crowd. She once again makes it clear she cares nothing for the ppl of Oklahoma. She should be kicked out of her chajr, rolled to the parking lot & deposited to I-40 into on coming traffic. Worst of tbe worst ever.o1
Mary Fallin cannot physically spit.
There is nothing beneficial I can ad.
I have never been more ashamed to be an Oklahoman. I have never regretted my decision to be a teacher in this state until now.
Teaching Oklahoma History was once a source of pride and my favorite class to teach. I would cover the tragedies and triumphs and a cast of heroes, rogues and villains that led to a unique culture my students could not wait to join.
The leaders of my state have dismissed us with orders of “go back to work” while they in the same day are working to undo what little progress we did manage to claim. They beg me to think of their children while they sneer “You knew what you getting into.”
In response, I’m going to use the words of that great educator, Sandor Clegane:
Here’s hoping our next governor understands how to lead a state! Although it appears that many of the candidates running will be every bit as bad as Mary Fallin. I’m not sure if there’s much hope for Oklahoma. But at least the teachers proved that there are still people in this state who are motivated and willing to fight for a better future! Kudos to them for that!
Most of the Republicans look like they would welcome an endorsement from Mary to get elected, and there are 10 in the primary. I am thinking definitely a runoff there, and I wish one would go off script (or teleprompter in some cases), go off on at least one of what the Oklahoma Republican Party platform items that isn’t what most of the actual Republican voters believe.
There are times I think Mary Fallin thinks she is still living in the 1980s Oklahoma Oil Boom era. Or perhaps she thinks we elected her Queen, and since her life of motorcades, private planes even for her personal travel is similar to the lives of the average Oklahoman.
I would love to see some debates or town hall meetings get a little verbally hostile, naturally nothing physical, just some of the public forcing the candidate to get off script and actually answer the question that was asked. As an example Mick Cornett campaigns on “fixing the mess” and said that the teacher walkout wouldn’t have happened if he had been Governor. Great answer Mick, I guess you can use that as an answer for all of our problems, but yet you can’t explain how you will “fix the mess.” You sound like Mary Fallin.