Superintendent Walter’s Misguided Attack on Edmond Public Schools

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has once again shown his lack of knowledge about government hierarchy by attempting to forcefully impose his version of morality onto the public schools of Oklahoma. Is Superintendent Walters suffering from a severe case of delusion, or does he genuinely believe that his moral compass reigns supreme over everyone else's? Walters, evidently devoid of reason, had the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) send a missive to the Edmond Public Schools (EPS), demanding the removal of two books from their high school libraries.

In an assertive move, Walters has even threatened EPS with the lowering of their accreditation if they defy his decree. This abuse of power comes despite the legal opinion of Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who has stated that the OSDE lacks the legal authority to impose such rules without explicit backing from the state legislature. Yet, with disregard for the law, the governor sanctioned OSDE’s rules, causing upheaval in Edmond and the entire state of Oklahoma.

Should EPS refuse to comply with Walters’ demands, OSDE has threatened to downgrade the district's accreditation. However, even if EPS were to capitulate, they would be in violation of established U.S. Supreme Court decisions prohibiting unilateral censorship of materials in public school libraries.

The crux of this debacle seems to stem from Walters and his team’s definition of pornography. Yet, upon examination, their interpretation falls flat. Several members of our editorial board have reviewed the contested books and found that while they may contain explicit language and scenes, they hardly meet the criteria for pornography as defined by reputable dictionaries. Even former First Lady Laura Bush recognized the literary merit of one of the books, "The Kite Runner," during her tenure.

These books deal with real-life situations and offer a glimpse into ways to deal with adversity. They are intended for high school students, not grade school, and are worthy offerings if students choose to read them. They are not forced upon students, and parents can opt their students out of reading these books, but Walters and his team want to deprive every high school student of the opportunity to read them.

Walters’ Library Media Advisory Committee, shrouded in secrecy, deemed these books pornographic and advocated for their immediate removal. Who comprises this committee within the OSDE? To date, only one member has been identified, residing not in Oklahoma, but in New York—a far cry from local control over Oklahoma school districts.

The lawsuit initiated by EPS is not about the two contested books; it is a defense of local autonomy. EPS has upheld a transparent policy for book reviews since 1997. Their committee invests countless hours in reading, researching, and debating before making decisions regarding the placement or removal of books from the EPS school libraries. In essence, Edmond exercises control in line with the mandates of the U.S. Supreme Court, ensuring a balanced approach to library content. This legal action has been applauded and endorsed by other school districts in our state, including Oklahoma City, Norman, and Mid-Del.

Superintendent Walters has launched an assault on the third-largest school district in the state. Our editorial board stands with EPS and their lawsuit against Ryan Walters. Why would you provoke a confrontation in a conservative bastion like Edmond, Mr. Walters? Your political standing may very well be affected by your actions in this debacle. Have you no sense left, or has power intoxicated your judgment beyond repair?

Ken Rees, an Edmond community leader for more than 40 years, has summed up the issue very nicely. “Seems like we have some misled, perhaps self-important members of the leadership of education at the state level that would somehow seek to cast a shadow over the crown jewel of this community; our school system.”   The EPS board of education has shown through the lawsuit that they will not be strong-armed into submission. And, our entire community should stand up and proudly support the effort of EPS leadership to protect local governance and our crown jewel, the public schools; one part of the economic engine that makes Edmond a great place to live and grow.