Jonathan Small

Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (www.ocpathink.org).

Editorial: Voters send message with retention vote on judges

November 14, 2024 Jonathan Small

Oklahomans sent a message this week when they voted, for the first time in state history, to oust a sitting member of the Oklahoma Supreme Court while two other justices came within a whisker of sharing the same fate. The question is whether defenders of the status quo will listen to the voters. In 1967,…

Editorial: ESG study highlights danger for Oklahoma Taxpayers

November 7, 2024 Jonathan Small

In recent years “environmental, social, and governance” (ESG) investing has become a prominent topic in the financial world as some large asset managers have claimed they will now invest money based on political goals rather than the longstanding norm of maximizing returns. Oklahoma lawmakers voted to prohibit ESG asset managers from having state contracts, arguing…

OSSAA rules harm student-athletes

October 17, 2024 Jonathan Small

Each year, parents across Oklahoma pay for their children to attend sports camps. Those parents may be surprised to learn that the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) now treats attendance at those camps as an excuse to ban some students from playing any sport for a year. It’s an idiotic rule adopted for no…

Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court Should Take Charter-School Case

September 19, 2024 Jonathan Small

This year the Oklahoma Supreme Court declared the Catholic Church cannot sponsor the proposed St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, declaring the church would be a “state actor” using taxpayer funds for religious purposes. The case could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Oklahomans should hope justices agree to take up this important…

Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court should take OK case

September 12, 2024 Jonathan Small

Legislating from the bench

August 1, 2024 Jonathan Small

Judges are often accused of legislating from the bench and a recent decision by the Oklahoma Supreme Court is one reason why. The court majority declared, in essence, that we have fallen through the looking glass like Alice in Wonderland and up is now down – depending on what outcome is favored by justices. In…

Oklahoma Supreme Court errs on religious school decision

July 25, 2024 Jonathan Small

When it comes to religion, many on the left twist the principle of government neutrality into a doctrine of government suppression. The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently ruled the Catholic Church cannot operate a state charter school. The decision is the latest in which an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision is at odds with simple logic. Following…

Child rapist set to go free

May 30, 2024 Jonathan Small

Since the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its controversial 5-4 decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma in 2020, it has reduced public safety in Oklahoma. Oklahomans get a reminder of that sad reality this month as the child rapist who prompted the case is set to be free—something that would never have happened in the Oklahoma…

One solution to student absenteeism

May 30, 2024 Jonathan Small

School absenteeism is contributing to poor academic outcomes and other negative trends in Oklahoma. According to a legislative study conducted last October, average daily attendance figures showed 94% of enrolled students were typically in Oklahoma classrooms in 2019, but following COVID attendance dropped to 80% at many state schools. That has obvious negative impact on…

Editorial: Obscure election dates undermine parents’ voice

April 4, 2024 Jonathan Small

In 2020, parents urged the school board at Deer Creek to provide full-time, in-person instruction to students. But the board opted to continue with COVID distance learning for many students. Yet recent reports show officials at Deer Creek schools also allowed charity fundraisers to include events where students lick peanut butter off people’s feet. Former…