2021 S.D. Legislature: ‘Education is a core Constitutional duty. We need to get it right.’

By: 
Rep. Steve Haugaard, District 10

Over the past week there has been ongoing discussion concerning revisions to South Dakota’s Education Standards. This usually happens without much fanfare but concerns over the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) or variations thereof, have added to the interest in the current curriculum used throughout the state.  (CRT generally refers to a way of interpreting life and society through the lens of race and/or racism, and oftentimes implying blame.)

Education content is set by ‘teaching standards’. Those ‘standards’ are short general descriptions of what is expected to be taught in various subject areas at various grade levels. It is important to bear in mind that local school boards have ultimate control over what is to be taught within their districts, but each state will set general expectations through the teaching standards adopted by the Department of Education/State Board of Education.

The following is taken from the South Dakota Department of Education’s website:

“South Dakota Content Standards serve as expectations for what students should know and be able to do by the end of each grade. The review, revision, development, and feedback process involves stakeholders throughout the state of South Dakota and is an ongoing and critical component to ensure South Dakota students in every classroom receive current and relevant learning experiences. The goal is that all students will graduate college, career, and life ready.

What South Dakota Content Standards Do:

Focus on deep thinking, conceptual understanding, and real-world problem solving skills

Set expectations for students to be College, Career, and Life ready

Do increase rigor and grade-level expectations

What South Dakota Content Standards DO NOT DO:

Do Not mandate a specific curriculum

Do Not limit advanced work beyond the standards”

In addition to the battle over the issue of CRT there has been an effort to enhance patriotism and, with that, an effort to include an expansion of South Dakota specific studies. In recent months, attention was drawn to the teaching standards when the Secretary of Education sought to revise the wording of some of the teaching standards by using a broader reference to teaching about various ethnic groups, but then dropping the specific reference to South Dakota Native American studies referred to as Oceti Sakowin. That drew significant attention as it appeared to be an insult to South Dakota tribal members. The Department of Education asserted that the change was simply expanding the studies which would be included, but that appeared to be taking away from the core of the Native American studies. That issue is yet to be resolved.  

As a result of the heightened concern over CRT, the Governor is severing ties with the hired out-of-state consulting firm that was supposed to be assisting our Department of Education in building a patriotic curriculum. (It is unclear at this time how much the State has already paid for these out-of-state services.)  

Education is a core Constitutional duty as indicated in our South Dakota Constitution. Article 8, Section 1: “The stability of a republican form of government depending on the morality and intelligence of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature to establish and maintain a general and uniform system of public schools wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all; and to adopt all suitable means to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education.”

As stated above, education is a core Constitutional duty. We need to get it right.

Please take a look at the Department of Education’s website for updates on the development of Standards. That website will also show archived meetings as well as upcoming meetings. Involvement on the part of citizens is vital to the process.  

As always, feel free to contact me (steven.haugaard@sdlegislature.gov) with questions or comments. You can also go to www.sdlegislature.gov to see what else is happening in state government.

Category:

The Brandon Valley Journal

 

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