Current:Home > Contact-usOklahoma revokes license of teacher who gave class QR code to Brooklyn library in book-ban protest-VaTradeCoin
Oklahoma revokes license of teacher who gave class QR code to Brooklyn library in book-ban protest
View Date:2025-01-08 16:40:49
Oklahoma’s education board has revoked the license of a former teacher who drew national attention during surging book-ban efforts across the U.S. in 2022 when she covered part of her classroom bookshelf in red tape with the words “Books the state didn’t want you to read.”
The decision Thursday went against a judge who had advised the Oklahoma Board of Education not to revoke the license of Summer Boismier, who had also put in her high school classroom a QR code of the Brooklyn Public Library’s catalogue of banned books.
An attorney for Boismier, who now works at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York City, told reporters after the board meeting that they would seek to overturn the decision.
“I will not apologize for sharing publicly available information about library access with my students,” the former teacher posted on X. “My livelihood will never be as important as someone’s life or right to read what they want.”
Brady Henderson, Boismier’s attorney, and the office of Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters did not immediately respond to phone messages seeking comment Friday.
Boismier, a fervent reader with a passion for fantasy novels, had been teaching English for nine years when she was involuntarily thrust into the center of Walters’ campaign for statewide office in August 2022. She received threats on social media and was accused of being part of a broader movement led by teachers to influence children’s political beliefs. Boismier resigned soon after.
She said at the time that she had hoped to spark a discussion about Oklahoma legislators’ book restrictions and a new law prohibiting lessons on critical race theory and other concepts about race and gender. Instead, she was summoned to a meeting with school administrators after a parent complained.
Walters, who was a candidate for Oklahoma’s top education office when Boismier was teaching, had called on the board in 2022 to revoke her teaching license in a letter he shared on social media.
“There is no place for a teacher with a liberal political agenda in the classroom,” Walters had wrote. He accused her of providing “banned and pornographic material” to students.
Walters said at Thursday’s meeting that Boismier violated rules that prohibit instruction on topics related to race and gender. He told reporters that she “broke the law.”
Boismier has maintained that she did nothing wrong.
Teachers in public schools across the country continue to face scrutiny at the local and state level as lawmakers in Republican-led statehouses push forward with book bans and restrict curriculum on issues related to race, gender, and sexuality such as in Iowa and Utah.
___
Lathan is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Crews battle 'rapid spread' conditions against Jennings Creek fire in Northeast
- Michael Madsen requests divorce, restraining order from wife DeAnna following his arrest
- Shohei Ohtani shatters Dodgers records with epic 3-homer, 10-RBI game vs. Marlins
- How RHOC's Heather Dubrow and Alexis Bellino Are Creating Acceptance for Their LGBT Kids
- Video shows masked man’s apparent attempt to kidnap child in NYC; suspect arrested
- Board approves more non-lethal weapons for UCLA police after Israel-Hamas war protests
- Pro-Palestinian protestor wearing keffiyeh charged with violating New York county’s face mask ban
- Sarah Michelle Gellar Shares Rare Video of Her and Freddie Prinze Jr.'s Daughter Charlotte
- Trump breaks GOP losing streak in nation’s largest majority-Arab city with a pivotal final week
- California Ballot Asks Voters to Invest in Climate Solutions
Ranking
- Ariana Grande Shares Dad's Emotional Reaction to Using His Last Name in Wicked Credits
- Highway crash injures 8 Southern California firefighters
- ‘Some friends say I’m crazy': After school shooting, gun owners rethink Georgia's laws
- Whoa! 'Golden Bachelorette' first impression fails, including that runaway horse
- Tesla issues 6th Cybertruck recall this year, with over 2,400 vehicles affected
- Justice Department opens civil rights probe into sheriff’s office after torture of 2 Black men
- Horoscopes Today, September 19, 2024
- Brad Pitt and George Clooney Reveal New Ocean’s Movie Is in the Works
Recommendation
-
Tropical Storm Sara threatens to bring flash floods and mudslides to Central America
-
South Carolina prepares for first execution in 13 years
-
Michael Madsen Accuses Wife of Driving Son to Kill Himself in Divorce Filing
-
'Bachelorette' alum Devin Strader denies abuse allegations as more details emerge
-
Chiefs block last-second field goal to save unbeaten record, beat Broncos
-
Colin Farrell is a terrifying Batman villain in 'The Penguin': Review
-
Families of Oxford shooting victims lose appeal over school’s liability for tragedy
-
Hailey Bieber Is Glowing in New Photo After Welcoming Baby Boy With Justin Bieber