Teacher candidate interview question sparks debate in the Oklahoma house

A proposal that's not very well with the public had tempers flaring Monday afternoon at the Oklahoma State Legislature.

The bill would prohibit school districts from asking about an applicant’s children during the job interview.

The bill passed 43 to one in the senate, but died on the house floor.

Supporters of the bill argued a teacher should be hired only on merit.

Representative Lee Denney was the author of the house bill.

She said, "A parental choice of where they put their kids should not be a condition of their employment."

Opponents like Representative Jerry McPeak, of Muskogee, said, "I would tell anyone I've got four children. Tell them anything other than that is kind of like lying about yourself."

Some lawmakers argued that schools should know if the children have behavior issues.

Representative Denney said the question just doesn't belong in an interview.

"You do not ask are your kids going to be enrolled in this school, whether you want them or whether you do not want them. That should not be a reason to hire a teacher or to hire a teacher."

Representative McPeak said,  "I just don't see the problem here. What are you afraid of? Afraid of being you?"