'We're a little scared': Rural school teacher speaks out on challenges of HB1775
Teachers are speaking out about their struggles in the classroom with HB1775, which they say requires educators to tip-toe around certain topics on race and sex. Shawn Staton, a Tonkawa High School teacher, is doing everything she can to stay inside the lines. (KOKH)
TONKAWA, Okla. (KOKH) — Teachers are speaking out about their struggles in the classroom with HB1775, which they say requires educators to tip-toe around certain topics on race and sex.
Shawn Staton, a Tonkawa High School teacher, is doing everything she can to stay inside the lines.
"Other teachers are feeling the way I am. We're a little scared," Staton said.
Staton has been teaching for 16 years. This year, she's teaching civics and history.
Before teaching topics like reconstruction and slavery to her students, she said she read over HB1775.
"It's hard because this bill compromises a teacher's ability to teach the curriculum the way it should be taught," Staton said.
In the past Staton was able to go above and beyond with the lessons, allowing the students to engage in topics they may have questions on.
But now, she's avoiding that entirely.
"There's lots of conversations that we could be having without pointing fingers," Staton said. "Personally, I don't know any teacher in Oklahoma that goes into education intentionally or un-intentionally to humiliate students."
In many cases, she's even been forced to shut down conversations with students who are eager to learn more.
"We have kids that are engaged and they want to know some of these things, and so they will begin conversations about those things," Staton said. "And I have to go, okay, make sure no one says anything that someone else may get upset about."
It's difficult for a teacher to control how a student feels or perceives something.
Many educators are going to their administration for advice on what to do if a situation happens, or if something they say gets taken out of context.
"I have talked to my principal and my superintendent who are so on board with teachers at my school. They will back you 100%," Staton said. "And they both said, just like I said, the language of the bill to me, in parts of it is vague," Staton said.
For many, the effects of this bill don't end in the classroom.
"I go home and I think about, 'did I say anything today that could be misconstrued in my class?' That's my big point that it does scare me, and I love my job and I don't want to lose my job," Staton said. "I want to retire on purpose."
Mustang and Tulsa Public Schools have already been penalized with alleged violations of the law.
Many teachers FOX25 reached out to are concerned about sharing their stories for fear of retaliation.
For more local news delivered straight to your inbox sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here.