Open in App
  • Local
  • U.S.
  • Election
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Education
  • Real Estate
  • Newsletter
  • Argus Leader

    Proposed changes to Indigenous education standards available for public comment

    By Makenzie Huber,

    1 day ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1HMrh0_0uvQLt3w00

    The South Dakota Board of Education Standards will soon review proposed changes to the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings, a set of standards meant to introduce Native American culture, traditions and history into public schools.

    The proposed changes are meant to make the standards “more navigable for teachers,” Indian Education Advisory Council Director Fred Osborn told council members at their Thursday meeting.

    The updates include new appendices for teachers to access resources, a new map of South Dakota reservations, more Indigenous language usage throughout and more Indigenous language pronunciation guides, among other changes.

    Osborn told council members that there were not significant changes made to the standards, and that he didn’t believe any of the changes detracted from the standards. He said there “was a lot more teacher input” in the standards review.

    One change, he added, was to change “resilience” to “strength” throughout the standards, to become more “current” and “empowering” for students.

    Advisory council members questioned some extended descriptions in the standards, and questioned the use of photos in the standards. Many of the photos were of landscapes or animals rather than people, said council member Brian Wagner, who is the tribal education director with the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. Members said they would need more time to adequately review the changes before the Board of Education Standards’ next meeting.

    The standards are not required to be taught in public schools — something some council members have pushed to change in recent years. A 2023 survey from the state Department of Education said nearly two-thirds of South Dakota educators are teaching the standards, but some members of the council questioned the results since the number of respondents was less than a 2021 survey.

    Lawmakers have introduced bills to require use of the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings in classrooms, but those efforts have failed in the Legislature .

    The proposed changes are available on the state Department of Education website for public comment ahead of the Board of Education Standards’ Sept. 16 meeting.

    The new standards, if approved, will go into effect during the 2025-2026 school year.

    This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Proposed changes to Indigenous education standards available for public comment

    Expand All
    Comments / 0
    Add a Comment
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    Most Popular newsMost Popular

    Comments / 0