Oklahoma governor says education needs to prepare for 'the jobs of tomorrow'

Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday made a broad argument in favor of school choice, claiming that a liberated education industry paves the way for a dynamic job market.

"We have to kind of think outside the box and really align our education system with the with the workforce, with the workforce needs, with the companies, and the jobs of tomorrow," Stitt said on a Just the News special report, "The New Foundation for American Greatness," sponsored by Heritage Action for America.

"I just think that the education system will not fix itself from within," Stitt argued. "We need to empower parents to make the best decision for their kids."

The Republican governor, who cruised to re-election last week with 55% of the vote, said the U.S. has seen greatly increased parental involvement in education due to the dynamics of the pandemic. 

"Our parents are more active than they've ever been," Stitt stated. "Because during [remote learning with] Zoom and because of some of the things that were happening nationally, you were seeing what was being taught. We saw some of the some of the nasty books that are in some libraries." 

"Parents need to be in charge of the education system," he said. "I think that's super important. I tell people, 'Regardless of where you're at on the political spectrum, you all want the best education for your kids'."

Nicole Nelly, the president and founder of "Parents Defending Education," said that increased parental involvement in American education was demonstrated this year with the results of school board elections. 

"There was a tremendous amount of turnover in lots of school boards," Neily said during the show. "Lots of first-time candidates were running and winning school boards, in states like Texas and South Carolina." 

"Let's put forward an agenda that actually empowers parents to know what is going on in their children's education and to be involved," Neily argued. "Things like that really should not be partisan. The fact that that has become a partisan is mind boggling."

"We know that children do better when parents are involved in their kids' lives, period," she said.