Radio Atlantic An American Education | 1. Is Oklahoma Breaking Public Schools?
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Sep 18, 2025 Summer Buamier, a former Oklahoma public school teacher, shares her tumultuous experience with Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters' controversial policies. She discusses her efforts to defend her classroom library against new restrictive laws, including a public cry against perceived censorship. The conversation highlights her classroom's transformation amid a broader cultural battle over education, with Walters pushing for biblical teachings and an ideology test for teachers, raising concerns about academic freedom and the true intent of public education.
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Teacher's Butcher Paper Protest
- Summer Buamier hid her classroom library behind butcher paper labeled "books the state doesn't want you to read."
- She added a QR linking to Brooklyn Public Library's Books Unbanned and later resigned after a parent complaint.
Public Call To Strip A Teacher's License
- Ryan Walters publicly asked the State Board to revoke Buamier's teaching certificate and called her actions pornographic.
- Buamier then received threats, harassment, and extreme personal consequences after the tweet.
Local Issues Turned National Brand
- Ryan Walters used social media and national allies to amplify local school controversies into a broader political brand.
- That strategy drew national attention and endorsements, including from Donald Trump.
