— Last year at a parents meeting at a Tulsa-area school, the Republican author of a bill affecting public education was invited to speak, where he referred to public schools as “government schools.” An audible gasp was heard from the attendees. These parents deserved more than Sean Insannity inspired ideological quoting of Faux News talking points.

The current crop of Republicans at the State Capital are terrorists and schools are feeling the brunt of that terrorism. Remember two years ago, it was going to be all about jobs and the economy? Turns out it was all about attacking public workers, prying into women’s health decisions and making sure fraidy cat Wyatt Earp wannabes can strap a six-shooter to their hips. Social issues took precedence, with one Republican legislator actually crying over the “personhood” bill, saying “this is our independence day.” We the real people of this state (not the tea gabbers) need independence from Republican fascism.

As for the economy, the only ones doing better are the richest one percent. The rest are working for minimum wage. Janet Baresi and her thugs don’t even try to hide their contempt for public education. Even Tulsa’s Republican mayor pleaded with legislators to increase school funding, truthfully stating that one of the first questions asked by prospective employers thinking of relocating to Oklahoma is “how’s your education system?” Right now ours is on life-support.

To add injury to insult, the State Board of Education published online a list of the seniors who failed their EOI tests and appealed those results and information which should have been kept in private. After an outcry they took it all down, but the message was sent, don’t appeal.

Oklahoma City may have the Thunder, but the capital has the blunder, put there by ignorant voters who see school as training camps for football players. After the primary dust settles, remember how our schools got into this mess and vote these terrorists out of office in November.

LARRY PARSONS

Warner