OKLAHOMA CITY – Myriad events, many featuring a variety of informational booths, are scheduled at the State Capitol almost daily throughout the four-month annual session of the Oklahoma Legislature. Observances have been scheduled by Native American tribes, cultural groups, educational organizations, state government agencies and associations, civic and social organizations.
For example, state Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, will coordinate the second annual “Meeting With the Faces of Dyslexia,” on Feb. 17.
The event is intended to focus attention on dyslexia, a developmental reading disorder characterized by difficulty in learning to read and with differing comprehension of language despite normal or above-average intelligence. This can include phonological decoding, phonological awareness, processing speed, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, language skills and auditory, verbal comprehension, or rapid naming.
Oklahoma teachers “are not typically trained in dyslexia, unless they receive specialized training,” said Shelton.
“When I was in school, teachers knew all of their students and there was room for some error in student performance,” the Oklahoma City Democrat said. But because of high-stakes testing in schools now, “There’s no room for error for these kids today. If they fail one of those tests in the third grade, they risk being held back to repeat that year.”
Children with dyslexia “have trouble processing information, articulating and comprehending what they have read,” he said. “It’s the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve with high-stakes testing.” Being able to read and comprehend words is “critical to education,” Shelton noted.
According to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, other public events and exhibitions scheduled during the next few weeks include:
- “CTSO Day at the Capitol”, sponsored by the state Department of Career and Technology Education, is set for today.
- “Rose Day,” an annual event sponsored by Oklahomans For Life, will be observed on Wednesday. Oklahomans For Life opposes abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and cloning.
- The YMCA Youth in Government state conference is scheduled at the Capitol on Feb. 6-7.
- NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) “Oklahoma Association of Health Underwriters Day” at the Capitol will be Feb. 9.
- Oklahoma Christian Home Educators Association, Feb. 10.
- “Higher Education Day” at the Capitol will be observed Feb. 10.
- An event to “Promote Safe Driving and Avoid Distracted Driving” is scheduled for Feb. 11.
- “PublicSchoolOptions.org” plans to observe Capitol Day on Feb. 11.
- “Claremore Day” will be celebrated at the Capitol on Feb. 12.
- The Oklahoma Press Association will hold its annual OPA Legislative Summit at the Capitol on Feb. 12.
- The Oklahoma State School Boards Association is set to be at the Capitol on Feb. 12.
- The annual “FFA Day” observance at the Capitol is scheduled for Feb. 16.
- The state CareerTech Department has scheduled “Health Careers Day” at the Capitol for Feb. 17.
- The Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice has scheduled a “Pink Wave for Reproductive Justice” on Feb. 17, featuring educational efforts, advocacy and lobbying.
- Oklahoma Food Banks are tentatively scheduled to host “Hunger Action Day” at the Capitol on Feb. 18.
- “Cherokee Nation Day” will be celebrated at the Capitol on Feb. 18.
- The annual “TRiO Day” observance is scheduled for Feb. 18. TRiO is a federal grant program that serves low-income, first-generation students to help them prepare and successfully complete post-secondary education. TRiO Day is intended to focus attention on the needs of disadvantaged young people and adults aspiring to improve their lives; the necessary investment if they are to become contributing citizens; and the talent which will be wasted if that investment is not made. The Oklahoma Division of Student Assistance Programs organizes the day and opens the event to students and programs throughout the state. Reportedly, more than 500 people have registered to attend this year’s event.
- The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits plans to hold a daylong observance at the Capitol on Feb. 19.
- The YMCA Youth in Government Program will meet at the Capitol on Feb. 20-21.
- “Senior Day” at the Capitol, sponsored by the state Department of Human Services, is set for Feb. 23.
- The Lawton Chamber of Commerce will host “Lawton-Fort Sill Day” at the Capitol on Feb. 24.
- The Oklahoma Women’s Coalition will assemble at the Capitol on Feb. 24.
- The 19th annual “National Technical Honor Society Day” will be held Feb. 25. Students from across Oklahoma will gather at the State Capitol to meet their legislators and observe them in action, and to tour the historic building.
- The state Department of Emergency Management plans “Emergency Management Day” at the Capitol on Feb. 25.
- “Family and Consumer Sciences Day” at the Capitol, sponsored by the state CareerTech Department, is set for Feb. 26.
- “Junior Achievement Job Shadow” at the Capitol is planned for March 3, during which high-school students will be paired with legislators and lobbyists.
- “STEM Day”, during which CareerTech will promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is scheduled on March 4.
- “American Red Cross Day” at the Capitol is planned for March 5.
- Muldrow student choirs will sing at the Capitol again this year, on March 5.
- “Chickasaw Day” at the Capitol is scheduled on March 9.
- “Arts Day” will be celebrated at the Capitol on March 10.
- “DECA Day” will be observed on March 10. DECA is an international association of high-school and college students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service.
- The Oklahoma Academy of Physician Assistants will gather at the Capitol on March 10.
- The annual “Transportation Day” observance at the Capitol is set for March 11, in the second floor rotunda.
- “Water Appreciation Day” is another annual event also scheduled for March 11, in the fourth floor rotunda. Exhibitors that established booths in the fourth floor rotunda last year included the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, the OU School of Engineering and Environmental Science, Oklahoma Mesonet, Oklahomans for Responsible Water Policy, Citizens for the Protection of the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, South Central Climate Science Center, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Oklahoma Rural Water Association, Oklahoma Water Survey, Oklahoma Geological Survey, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, and Nemaha Water Services, a self-described “water logistics solution provider focused on improving the way water is used in the oil and gas industry.”
- Also planned March 11 is a crusade to “Encourage Lawmakers to Free Nonviolent Drug Offenders Serving Life or Life Without Parole in Oklahoma”.
- The Oklahoma Conservation Commission has scheduled “GIS Day” at the Capitol for March 12, in the second and fourth floor rotundas. The observance provides an opportunity for the public and private sectors to highlight the uses of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and to showcase how the technology is being used as a decision-making tool and to attract new business to Oklahoma. Last year, more than 50 public and private agencies demonstrated the power of GIS to Oklahoma legislators.
- “Girl Scout Day” at the State Capitol is set for March 18.
- “Conservation Day” at the Capitol is planned for March 23. The event is sponsored by the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, a private, non-profit organization that represents the 86 conservation districts across the state. Their principal focus is water quality, land conservation, and watershed maintenance and rehabilitation.
- The Oklahoma Conference of Churches, led by its executive director, the Rev. Dr. William Tabbernee, has scheduled a visit to the Capitol on March 23.
- “Developmental Disability Awareness Day” at the Capitol is scheduled on March 25.
- The annual “Bob Wills Day” celebration that honors “the king of Western swing” is set for March 25 this year. Blue jeans and cowboy boots are appropriate attire. The sounds of guitars, fiddles and drums echo throughout the building during the event.
- “TSET (Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust) Day” at the Capitol will be observed March 26.
- The YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City Youth in Government will conduct their “Model Legislative Day” on March 27.
- A “Support Public Education” rally that’s expected to attract several thousand teachers to Oklahoma City is scheduled at the Capitol on March 30 by the Oklahoma Education Coalition.
- Oklahoma EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) based at Oklahoma State University has scheduled “Research Day” at the Capitol for March 30.
- The Foster Care and Adoptive Association of Oklahoma plans to observe “Foster Care Day” at the Capitol on March 31.
- The annual “Ag Day” celebration at the Capitol, sponsored by the state Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, is scheduled on April 1.
- “Arbuckle Simpson Appreciation Day” is set for April 2 at the Capitol. The event will spotlight a subterranean aquifer that provides water for thousands of southeastern Oklahomans and feeds springs and seeps associated with the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
- “Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Day” will be observed on April 2.
- The National Alliance Against Violence has scheduled “Sexual Assault Awareness Day” at the Capitol on April 2.
- “Consumer Protection Day” sponsored by the state Attorney General’s Office is set for April 6 at the Capitol.
- “4-H Day at the Capitol” is planned for April 7.
- “International Student Awareness Day” is tentatively set for April 8.
- The Oklahoma Public Employees Association will conduct “OPEA Legislative Day” at the Capitol on April 9.
- Child Abuse Prevention will be emphasized at the Capitol on April 13-14.
- The State Regents for Higher Education will highlight the “Oklahoma’s Promise” program on April 14. The Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, also known as Oklahoma’s Promise, provides awards equivalent to all or part of tuition expenses for students who complete the program’s requirements while in high school. The awards may be used at accredited Oklahoma public and private colleges and for certain courses offered at public career technology centers.
- “Drug Court and Mental Health Court Day” will be observed on April 15.
- The City of Tuttle “Ice Cream Day” is scheduled for April 15.
- The “9-1-1” emergency notification system will be celebrated at the Capitol on April 16.
- The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education will host “BPA (Business Professionals of America) Day” at the Capitol on April 16.
- “People With Disabilities Awareness Day,” sponsored by the state Department of Rehabilitation Services, will be observed at the Capitol on April 20.
- “Breast Cancer Awareness Day” will be observed on April 21.
- The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics will have its legislative day at the Capitol on April 22.
- “Capitol Day for the Long-Term Care Profession”, hosted by the Coalition of Advocates for Responsible Eldercare (CARE), is scheduled for April 23.
- The Oklahoma State School Boards Association plans to be at the Capitol the morning of April 27.
- “OETA Day,” highlighting the services of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, is planned the morning of April 28.
- A coalition of health-care advocates has scheduled “My Mind Matters: Mental Health Day” for April 29.
- Small business owners/operators will be praised at the Capitol on April 30.
- “Immunization Awareness Day” sponsored by the Oklahoma County Immunization Coalition is set for April 30. The event has taken on special significance in light of the outbreaks of measles this year among U.S. children whose parents refused to have them vaccinated against childhood diseases.
- “Ponca City Day” at the Capitol will be celebrated on May 6.
- The “National Day of Prayer” will be observed at the Capitol on May 8.
- “Lupus State Advocacy Day” will be held on May 13.
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