Much more than OK, Oklahoma is stellar state

(Published Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 in Examiner-Enterprise)

Friday was a very special day.

Oklahoma, the Sooner State which we call home, turned 100 years old.

Throughout the Bartlesville Public School District , special centennial events were plentiful. Schools held assemblies which turned the spotlight onto Oklahoma and its rich heritage. Special guests visited campuses as well and expounded upon the state which we all hold near and dear to our hearts.

It's always a good time to be an Oklahoman, but Friday was obviously extra special.

Within the Bartlesville Public School District, all of our students have the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about the state in which they live. Freshmen are required to take one semester of Oklahoma History, a class which focuses on the culture, the economy, the geography and the political foundations of the Sooner State. While we want our students to take a general pride in Oklahoma, we want them to know the state as well and have a firm grasp of specifics from which that pride can spring.

Oklahoma became the 46 th state in the union on Nov. 16, 1907. Cities such as Tulsa, Oklahoma City and our very own Bartlesville soon began to flourish thanks to fertile ground which produced oil.

Our state is rich with Native American heritage. The name Oklahoma is derived from the Choctaw language. “Okla ” means people while “humma” means red. Indians from more than 67 tribes call this land home.

The Oklahoma History course which is offered to our students includes projects, simulations and issue debates. From initial European exploration up until the present day, the Sooner State is studied inside and out.

“It is important for students to take pride in the history of the state in which they live,” says Janet Vernon, the executive director of secondary instruction within the BPSD.

“There are so many significant historical events that have taken place within Oklahoma.”

There are plenty of famous Oklahomans who have gone on to achieve worldwide acclaim. The list includes icons such as humorist Will Rogers, musician Garth Brooks and baseball star Mickey Mantle. A native of New York, actor Billy Crystal likes to joke he was such a fan of the late Yankees slugger as a child that he spoke with an Oklahoma accent at his Bar Mitzvah.

The special events held on Friday in honor of the Oklahoma centennial were plentiful. At the Will Rogers Early Childhood Center, home to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students, books focusing on the Sooner State were read and discussions about this tremendous land were held. The Little Ropers enjoyed an Oklahoma-themed lunch as well.

State representative Earl Sears spoke to students at Jane Phillips Elementary School. Later in the day, the youngsters gathered for a special picture. Wearing tie-dyed shirts, the student body grouped itself in the shape of Oklahoma for an overhead shot which expressed their state pride.

Throughout the district, cake was served in honor of the Sooner State 's 100 th birthday.

Those from the Bartlesville High School family will always remember this year as a special one. Last month, Brad Henry, the 26 th governor in the history of Oklahoma , paid a visit to the BHS campus as he spoke during a special assembly in the Fine Arts Center. Now in his second term, Gov. Henry was greeted with scenes from the musical “ Oklahoma,” which were performed by students. A huge Oklahoma flag hung behind him as he spoke and area legislators sat alongside him on the stage.

In this centennial year, we have long been offering our appreciation for the Sooner State.

It's important for people to take pride in who they are as well as the places from which they hail. Thus, we have pride in ourselves as citizens of Bartlesville as well as the great country in which we reside, the United States of America . But we certainly shouldn't forget our Oklahoma roots. Of course, in a fine centennial year such as this, there is virtually no chance of that happening.

Within the Bartlesville Public School District, we are proud to offer excellence in education. Oklahoma certainly offers its own brand of excellence as well.