Who Should Fix and How to Fix the Problem of Education in Oklahoma

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Arguing a Position Essay
Dear Mr. Lankford,
I am writing this letter to express my concerns about the on-going teachers' strike in Oklahoma. I am concerned with the state of education in Oklahoma because we are losing many teachers. Our best teachers are crossing over to the nearby state of Texas. As you know, Oklahoma teachers are the lowest paid in the nation. Being a former graduate from one of the largest state public schools in Tulsa, I believe that teachers give their best; however, they are overwhelmed by the ever-increasing K-12 population. The growing population among the K-12 population, need to match with the education funding, but Oklahoma is yet to make any major adjustments to move with the changing trends.
Limited funding towards education and deep cuts in funding educational programs has greatly affected many schools. District schools have been forced to reschedule their school week from five to four days. You will agree with me that it doesn't make sense for our two public colleges in Norman and Stillwater to train thousands of teachers only for these teachers to be employed in Texas. There is need to address the current shortfall of teachers. This year alone, Oklahoma has been forced to employ more than 1,900 emergency certified teachers to address the persistent teacher shortage.
The most visible problem in Oklahoma is the growing number of students against few teachers. Although it's not uncommon for teachers to handle a class of 35 to 40 students, it’s impossible to offer individualized instruction. The increased number of the class population has been the main issue that needs your attention. As you know, if the number of children under your care grows, one can easily be distracted. The issue of overcrowding was addressed by creating laws to limit class sizes, such limits have been revoked due to the funding problems.
As a parent, am concerned about how the education reforms in Oklahoma have not addressed the core issue which is teachers’ pay. Although the revenue-raising measure approved was meant to increase teachers pay, the money is not adequate. Raising taxes on cigarettes, gas, and oil and hotel room are some of the measures taken to address teachers’ pay. With the recent legislation enacted to addre...