
Oklahoma state Representative Mickey Dollens, a Democrat, is amplifying a video of elementary school children (K-5 grades) in the House of Representatives celebrating the passing of a bill (86-1) that will double the time allowed for recess in their public schools.
Dollens took the opportunity to slam the only state representative who voted against the bill, Republican state Representative Jim Olsen.
SB 1481 doubles recess time for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Passed 86-1. Can you guess who the 1 “NO” vote was? pic.twitter.com/h92dXQya5s — Rep. Mickey Dollens (@MickeyDollens) April 17, 2026
It’s not the first time Olsen has been criticized for his voting record, particularly regarding children and educational issues.
In 2023, the MAGA-aligned lawmaker rejected a bill that would ban corporal punishment for children with special needs and disabilities, citing a Bible passage — Proverbs 29: “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Video below.
Oklahoma State Rep. Jim Olsen (R): “I had a constituent that called me … He was upset because he had a special needs child, and what he told me was that this child did not respond to positive motivation, but that she responded very well to corporal punishment.” pic.twitter.com/dspPeImWbC
— The Recount (@therecount) March 14, 2023
[NOTE: Dollens also responded to Olsen’s pro-corporal punishment vote at the time, writing: “State-endorsed religious indoctrination is unconstitutional, idolatrous, violates parents’ rights, and contradicts the teachings of the deity he claims to worship.”]
In addition to proposing a bill to display the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, the Oklahoma Republican also proposed legislation to limit the teaching of slavery by state agencies and public school districts and prohibit the usage of The 1619 Project, which explores the history of the transatlantic slave trade.
