Oklahoma City Cuts Elementary Science Teacher As 'Equity' Issue

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Parents of children at an Oklahoma City elementary school are mobilizing to make up for the loss of a science teacher after the school district axed the teacher as an "equity" issue.

A spokesman for Oklahoma City Public Schools said the science teacher from Cleveland Elementary School was ordered cut from the payroll because the school had the only full-time science teacher in the district.

"We want them to understand why we did this, that it's a question of equity. No matter what school you go to, you have the same opportunity to be successful," said Tierney Tinnin, spokesperson for the Oklahoma City Public Schools.

Parents and teachers worried that losing a full-time science teacher would compromise the students' education especially since they had worked so hard to instill a love of science in their children.

"Science has just been fed into these kids here, the importance and coolness of it," said Kathy Patterson Rangel who represents the Parent Teachers Association at Cleveland Elementary School

Teachers and parents are now working together to maintain a hands-on science program at the school despite the district's policy.

Art and music teachers are giving up their planning periods to teach science and the PTA has invited speakers from the sciences and technologies industries to come and speak to science classes.

"We have a rich community when you look at all the science and tech industries and we would love to have them come and share what is important to them," Patterson Rangel said.

So far, OG&E and a parent have stepped up to help out.