SAND SPRINGS — A group of Charles Page High School students walked out of class Thursday morning amid growing frustration about state budget cuts to education.
As estimated 100 to 150 students gathered in front of the school for the 22-minute walkout to protest the $22 million in cuts to education this fiscal year, said Rob Miller, assistant superintendent of Sand Springs Public Schools.
Miller and other school officials were on hand to supervise the demonstration.
Students held signs that read, “No more budget cuts” and chanted, “We wish we had money.” Students in Bartlesville held a similar walkout last week to protest education funding cuts.
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Charles Page High School 10th-grader Bethany Simms, who attended the walkout, said students feel the impact of budget cuts.
“Our goal is to try to get more funding for education because Oklahoma is one of the worst (states) for funding education,” she said.
Simms said budget cuts result in students using older textbooks and losing other resources.
Miller said the students who attended the walkout were counted absent from class.
“We understand and appreciate their passion for education and wanting to support our schools, but it is disruptive to the learning environment — that’s why we as a school system can’t sanction a walkout,” he said. “You could argue supporting (the students in Parkland, Florida) and (wanting more money for education) are worthy causes, but it’s a slippery slope.”
Sand Springs Public Schools Superintendent Sherry Durkee said students at Central Ninth Grade Center also walked out Thursday morning and that they connected the issue of school funding with school security.
Demonstrations are reportedly planned across the country calling for action to stop gun violence in the wake of the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.
“I spent this time with students at CNGC who articulated the reasons for their demonstration,” Durkee said in a written statement. “They connected the fear of school violence to the lack of funding support in our state and making the point that these dollars could be used to improve school security.
“It was a great reminder that our students are aware of the issues and truly have formulated opinions about them. However, it saddens me that some of our students worry about being safe at school. They are also very aware of the low teacher pay in the state of Oklahoma.
“Today strengthens my resolve and commitment, even more than before to advocate for our students, teachers and for public education in Oklahoma and across our nation.”
