tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5372317035256264363.post7921698361546106949..comments2024-01-14T02:35:04.947-06:00Comments on Reclaim Oklahoma Parent Empowerment: Oil and Water and Who Is Mautra Jones? Standards Re-Write Gets Started.Jenni L. Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384751674062669863noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5372317035256264363.post-76563462677756521722014-09-29T09:11:02.761-05:002014-09-29T09:11:02.761-05:00Other states, who hope to follow Oklahoma's le...Other states, who hope to follow Oklahoma's lead in repealing Common Core and reclaiming state freedom in education, are watching Oklahoma's steps closely. One thing we are watching for especially closely is whether the Network (pro-centralization groups partnered with federal and corporate entities financially and aligned with them philosophically) will take over the new standards. Jenni White is wise not to blindly trust, prior to verifyication, any person with a say in Oklahoma's educational future. It would be disasterous to have Network-aligned pawns again at the helm. <br /><br />Thank you, Jenni.<br /><br />--From Christel Swasey of Utahns Against Common CoreAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5372317035256264363.post-64971258622056412062014-09-28T20:27:50.354-05:002014-09-28T20:27:50.354-05:00Jenni White is a grassroots leader on education is...Jenni White is a grassroots leader on education issues. The organization, ROPE, was formed to be a watchdog on these issues and to expose Common Core. She has been instrumental in the David vs. Goliath fight that got Common Core repealed from Oklahoma Law. The battle obviously is not over.<br /><br />Thank goodness Jenni is courageous enough to speak out, even when she draws undue criticism and personal attacks such as these.<br /><br />If the SBE were acting as a statesman it would have appointed Jenni to the Steering Committee or to the Executive Committee for the re-write of these standards.<br /><br />Jenni White is not out to discredit anyone personally. She is zealous for an actual transparent process with input from the grassroots. The people of Oklahoma will all be directly affected by the decisions made in this important process. Is it unreasonable to want to know who will be making these decisions?<br /><br /> Carolyn McLarty<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16901701535287549729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5372317035256264363.post-6433719132660310582014-09-28T20:20:34.548-05:002014-09-28T20:20:34.548-05:00Dear Mr. Anonymous,
Jenni White is not an idiot. ...Dear Mr. Anonymous,<br /><br />Jenni White is not an idiot. She is, in fact, one of the most astute women I know. Based on my reading of her blog, she did indeed do some research to learn more about Mrs. Jones, and she learned enough to raise some question in her mind. The question that was raised had to do with the transparency of the system, not Mrs. Jones' qualifications to serve on this committee.<br /><br />I have to say that I am offended by your remark about not wanting "average joe-blow" to serve on this committee. My opinion is that "average joe-blow" is exactly who we need on this committee. I have a doctorate in education, but I learn consistently from everyday parents who bring or send their children to our schools. They are the ones who have been telling us about the deleterious effects of the materials aligned with Common Core on their children. They have much to give and much to share, and I sincerely hope that whoever the "parent" rep is can bring their concerns to the table. Because to this point, they have been summarily ignored by those in positions of power and influence.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15256351549695010744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5372317035256264363.post-38053986904913455382014-09-28T18:10:50.116-05:002014-09-28T18:10:50.116-05:00It is so easy to call somebody an idiot when you h...It is so easy to call somebody an idiot when you hide behind anonymity. It is very easy to pass judgement and criticize others when YOU are not willing to make public who you are. Where I come from they are called cowards.<br /><br />This is not a game that is being played. Common Core made its way into many States without the knowledge of parents and/or teachers. Governors, legislators and/or State Education boards in 45 States signed onto one of the most destructive education reform this country has ever seen. So I welcome this kind of questioning and scrutiny so we don't make the same mistake again. Yet again transparency seems to be missing in the process and that should alarm everybody and have them pay attention that we don't end up with Common Core rebranded as that there will only be one loser again, our kids. <br /><br />Mr. Anonymous questions the due diligence of R.O.P.E., an organization that was instrumental in removing Common Core from OK. Maybe he or she should do a bit more due diligence before shooting from the hip. I would argue that they are willing to ask the tough questions that others are not. They are willing to be proven wrong, because it means that being wrong is good for the kids. They are willing to shine a light on the fact that the member selection yet again is without transparency and are willing to highlight the fact that others with a proven track-record have been omitted. If that makes people feel uncomfortable then so be it. I can only thank Jenni White for willing to step up and ask these tough questions, for willing to make sure that those who cannot represent themselves have a voice through her and her organization.Glen Dalgleishhttp://www.stopcommoncoreinnewyork.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5372317035256264363.post-73165356394615442922014-09-27T22:28:29.783-05:002014-09-27T22:28:29.783-05:00I've reviewed your initial blog, reader respon...I've reviewed your initial blog, reader response, and your response to the same, and I find myself arriving at the same conclusion: You are an idiot. I don't know Mrs. Jones nor do I care to know her, but what I do know is that as a "watch dog" organization, your job is to seek and report the truth, and you do that by doing your due diligence. Based on your blog post about Mrs. Jones, you clearly failed to accurately report who she is and experience qualifying her to serve on this committee charged with this very important task. Instead, you focus on the fact that she's "a parent." Well, read the statute, it requires a parent representative, and if she happens to be a parent who has experience in education administration and has the ear of the community (based on her service), well what's all the fuss about? I don't want nor do we need the average joe-blow representing us in this important endeavor; remember the goal is to evolve, not devolve, and we do this by having the best and brightest involved in the process. Again, had you done your due diligence, you would have discovered and reported the full extent of Mrs. Jones's credentials. You also would have discovered that it appears she is the wife a judge who was appointed by Fallin. In fact, he's the same judge who recently ruled the Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarship unconstitutional, a position opposed by Fallin and her administration. Though this is simply one example, the fact remains, that just because someone is appointed by the governor, doesn't mean they won't vote their conscience and do what they believe to be right. From what I gathered, there is nothing in this woman's background suggesting she isn't qualified to serve nor that she won't be an independent voice. So, "watch dog" organization: do your due diligence when you report, otherwise, you look, just as you do now: like an idiot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5372317035256264363.post-19212168275873110942014-09-27T10:15:55.372-05:002014-09-27T10:15:55.372-05:003. Tax-paying citizens of Oklahoma have been left ...3. Tax-paying citizens of Oklahoma have been left out of the process of government through bureaucracy now for decades. Yes, we retain the power to vote, but the Committees, Commissions and oversight boards established by Governors all strike at the heart of 'representative government' via direct representation. These are not directly elected positions, but positions populated by those in power at the time, via people they know. This is understandable, frankly - no one wants to work with people they don't know because an appointment is a position that 'represents' the government (please note; represents the government, not the people directly). Yes, we can vote out a Governor if we do not like his/her appointments, however, there are so many appointees that many tend to stay on following elections, continuing the business of the previous administration, not the one currently in power. Hopefully, you can see how this thwarts the notion of government "by the people, for the people, of the people". We do, and consequently, we reserve the right to thoroughly vet ANY gubernatorial appointee, regardless of who or where. When I mention "echo-chamber appointments" this is the process to which I refer. Every day, tax-paying citizens who do not have the CV of your friend Mrs. Jones, are regularly ignored for government appointments, though they more thoroughly represent the pulse of the majority. If a person has not attended Leadership Oklahoma, or served in another gubernatorial position or sat on a non-profit board, they are routinely omitted from consideration for this kind of service. Catalogs of previous appointments do not indicate good citizenship or leadership - they simply indicate that the person has been involved in many of the same circles as the person in power for a given amount of time. To summarize; there are many, many good citizens/leaders moving through regular, 'ordinary' lives who are outstanding individuals, yet they are rarely, if ever sought out for this kind of service because they are not inside the sphere of influence of those in power. <br />I hope this post creates a greater level of understanding regarding this blog - and what we consider to be our job as citizen 'watchdogs' for education. Again, I thank you for your post. We will look forward to working with Mrs. Jones as this process moves forward. We are certainly happy to speak with her at any time. Please remember, however, that we will continue to report only what we are able to find and on as much of this process as possible, so if you have information to share, you are certainly asked to do so to enlighten us and others.<br />Jenni L. Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16384751674062669863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5372317035256264363.post-27777102061958346662014-09-27T10:15:28.438-05:002014-09-27T10:15:28.438-05:00Thank you for your comment, Sady. It is certainly ...Thank you for your comment, Sady. It is certainly of interest to have you relate Mrs. Jones CV and certainly, she is a very accomplished woman.<br />Please note that I did not cast aspersions on Mrs. Jones character. In fact, I pointed out that I did not know anything about her other than what I could find on the internet. <br />Because Mrs. Jones is an appointee to a Committee that will have direct oversight over the re-writing of Oklahoma's educational standards - a statewide concern - it is completely fair, albeit necessary, to know who serves on the Committee, as they represent the public in this endeavor. I am very glad to hear your outstanding defense of Mrs. Jones, but I would also ask you to understand why we would investigate anyone on the committee and report anything we found.<br />1. Common Core was adopted in a decidedly non-transparent way. In fact, Governor Henry ordered the State Board to adopt them and the legislature put them into effect via one paragraph in a 32 page bill. Where was parental involvement in such an important decision? <br />2. Gubernatorial appointees serve "at the pleasure of" the governor. I have been told by several gubernatorial appointees that if the governor wants something specific to happen, she expects her appointee to comply with her wishes. That is her prerogative - she is the governor - she was elected by the people and she made that appointment. Unfortunately, we don't see the Governor as an ally in this effort. Though she signed the bill repealing Common Core, she was the president of the National Governor's Association - one of the organizations responsible for bringing us the Common Core - at that time. In addition, her office lobbied her own legislature heavily to keep the standards in place over the time the bill was moving through the legislative process - against the wishes of 'regular' tax-paying citizens of Oklahoma.<br />Jenni L. Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16384751674062669863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5372317035256264363.post-79271852163444291002014-09-26T20:19:33.181-05:002014-09-26T20:19:33.181-05:00In response to your article regarding "Oil an...In response to your article regarding "Oil and Water and Who is Mautra Jones?", you are correct in stating she is a gubernatorial appointee to the Oklahoma Merit Protection Commission, involved in Leadership Oklahoma, and was the Development Director for the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools. I will be happy to complete her resume so you will have all the facts. Mautra was Vice President of Development for Prevent Blindness, member and past President of the Oklahoma County Bar Auxiliary, and is currently the Director of Development at White Fields Home for Boys. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha and active in her church. She has an extensive resume indeed that I doubt many of us could compare. But just because you know her resume doesn't mean you know her and obviously from the title of your article/blog, you don't. I do. I have had the privilege of working with her through White Fields and know her personally. I can fill in the lines between her resume to show her creativity, her dedication to her community and her desire and heart to serve. I can tell you she is her own person and is willing to stand up for what she believes is right and challenge the status quo. I can tell you she has a heart for the children she serves and commits wholeheartedly into any cause, board or organization she is willing and feels led to serve on. She is an articulate woman of high intelligence, deep faith, commitment and resolve. She doesn't join something just because she is asked but because she feels she can make an impact. She is nobody's "yes" girl. These things a resume can't tell you. If she were to answer the question "what is your proudest accomplishment", she would tell you her family. Her role as a wife and a mom is first and foremost to her. Therefore to minimize her position as a parent is highly unfair. For you to insinuate her appointment to this board was "the straw that broke the camel's back" and she is just an "echo-chamber nomination" based solely on her resume is unfair to her as well. I cannot speak for the other appointees but I can tell you, if I had children currently in school, with the problems facing our educational system today, I would want someone of Mautra Jones' caliber working for and with them. She may not have all the solutions to the problems we face, but she will work hard to help find and implement them. So "Who is Mautra Jones?" She's one incredible, talented, dedicated woman I am extremely proud to call my friend. You would be blessed to get to know her yourself before commenting and making insinuations about her character and motivations. Next time, please write about someone you do know. sadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04723098559924933060noreply@blogger.com