- In 2024, Andy Ogles introduced legislation targeting student protesters, including the "Antisemitism Community Service Act" that would require those convicted of unlawful campus activities since October 7, 2023, to complete at least six months of community service in Gaza (Knoxville News-Sentinel; Tennessean; Jackson Sun).
- Ogles also backed legislation to revoke visas for demonstrators who riot or engage in unlawful protests on university campuses (Knoxville News-Sentinel).
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ogles repeatedly called for reopening schools on time, citing the importance of in-person learning for students' mental health, social development, safety, and access to food (Daily Herald, 5/28/20; Daily Herald, 8/12/20; Daily Herald, 7/13/20).
- Ogles emphasized the need for a unified approach to reopening plans and opposed extended school closures and ongoing executive orders over COVID-19, arguing it was politicized and not supported by data (Daily Herald, 7/13/20; Daily Herald, 9/8/20).
- Ogles has publicly praised private schools and the county's improving education system, highlighting their role in fostering independent thinking and problem-solving in students (Daily Herald, 8/6/19).
- Potential vulnerability: Ogles' legislative focus on punishing student demonstrators, as well as the controversial provision to require convicted protesters to serve community service in Gaza, could invite legal scrutiny and public debate about constitutional rights and the efficacy of such measures.
2024: Ogles Filed Bills To Punish Student Protesters According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, and U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, both proposed legislation to crack down on student protesters demonstrating in support of Gaza at universities across the country." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 5/12/24]
2024: Ogles Introduced 'Antisemitism Community Service Act' According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "One, dubbed the 'Antisemitism Community Service Act,' would require any person convicted of unlawful activity on university campuses in the United States since Oct. 7, 2023 to provide community service in Gaza for no less than six months." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 5/12/24]
2024: Ogles Proposed Visa Revocation For Unlawful Demonstrators According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "Another would revoke visas for demonstrators who riot or participate in unlawful protests." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 5/12/24]
2024: Ogles Introduced Legislation To Punish Student Protesters On University Campuses According to The Tennessean, "Ogles introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at punishing demonstrators who commit crimes. One, dubbed the 'Antisemitism Community Service Act,' would require any person convicted of unlawful activity on university campuses in the United States since Oct. 7, 2023 to provide community service in Gaza for no less than six months. Another would revoke visas for demonstrators who riot or participate in unlawful protests." [Tennessean, 5/12/24]
2024: Ogles Introduced Legislation To Punish Student Demonstrators According To Jackson Sun According to Jackson Sun, "Ogles introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at punishing demonstrators who commit crimes. One, dubbed the 'Antisemitism Community Service Act,' would require any person convicted of unlawful activity on university campuses in the United States since Oct. 7, 2023 to provide community service in Gaza for no less than six months. Another would revoke visas for demonstrators who riot or participate in unlawful protests." [Jackson Sun, 5/13/24]
August 2019: Andy Ogles Praised Agathos Classical School's Educational Approach and Student Achievement According to The Daily Herald, "Ogles said the championship team serves as a symbol for the county's improving public education system and celebrated private schools. 'Agathos Classical School doesn't teach people what to think,' Ogles said. 'It teaches them how to think. These students are empowered by their environment. When there is problem solving and team building, they thrive.'" [Daily Herald (Columbia, Tennessee), 8/6/19]
May 2020: Ogles Stated Schools Should Open On Time Amid Pandemic According to The Daily Herald, "We should move forward. Schools should open and open on time, if not earlier. There are things that we can do to be proactive." [Daily Herald (Columbia, Tennessee), 5/28/20]
July 2020: Andy Ogles Argued For Uniformity In School Reopening Plans According to Daily Herald, "I do think we need some uniformity when you see our schools opening." [Daily Herald, 7/13/20]
August 2020: Andy Ogles Cited Schools’ Role In Delivering Mental Health Services According to Daily Herald, "He said many of the state's mental health services are offered though the school system. 'There is a lot things that children across this state are not getting because they are out of school,' Ogles said as students returned to the local public schools on Monday." [Daily Herald, 8/12/20]
August 2019: Andy Ogles Highlighted Maury County's Growth and Education System Improvements According to The Daily Herald, "We are the fifth-fastest growing county in the state we have a lot to offer from an economic standpoint," Ogles said. "We have a school system that is improving year over year. We have three great private schools, and now we have national champions." [Daily Herald (Columbia, Tennessee), 8/6/19]
July 2020: Andy Ogles Stated That Schools Provide Safety And Food For Vulnerable Children According to Daily Herald, 'For a lot of kids across this country school is a safe place,' Ogles said. 'It is a place where our children get food.' [Daily Herald, 7/13/20]
August 2020: Mayor Andy Ogles Supported Return To In-Person Classes According to Daily Herald, "Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles continued to voice his support on returning to in-person classes. 'The American Pediatrics Association, the CDC - they all say it ideal that students get back in the classroom,' said Ogles. 'It is not just the learning. It is the social development. It is the mental development.'" [Daily Herald, 8/12/20]
August 2020: Andy Ogles Emphasized Need To Return And Remain In School Safely According to Daily Herald, "'We have got to get them in school and figure out how to keep them in school,' Ogles said. 'How do we protect our students and our teachers - our frontline workers.'" [Daily Herald, 8/12/20]
July 2020: Andy Ogles Criticized Remote-Only Learning And Supported Protecting Educators According to Daily Herald, 'The mayor said everything will be done to protect educators but it remains essential that schools reopen.' Ogles also stated, 'It is unrealistic to think a single mom working two shifts would be able to educate her two or three children when she gets home at 10 or 11 o'clock at night [...]. The kids come first.' [Daily Herald, 7/13/20]
September 2020: Ogles Opposed School Closures And Ongoing Executive Orders Over COVID-19 According to The Daily Herald, "'This thing is manageable, and life must go on,' Ogles said. 'There is no reason why our schools should be shutting down, and there is no reason why we have executive orders in place. We have to move forward. We have to open up the economy. This has gotten political. We have lost our common sense, and the data just shows it.'" [Daily Herald (Columbia, Tennessee), 9/8/20]