SD Senate rejects effort to boost Native American history, culture lessons in schools

PIERRE — A bill to move Native American culture and history from a permitted to a required part of South Dakota’s curriculum was loosened by its sponsor in the state Senate on Tuesday, but still failed its floor vote.

In its original form, Senate Bill 196 would have mandated the teaching of the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings. The phrase “Oceti Sakowin” refers to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people. 

The set of standards and lessons was adopted seven years ago by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards with input from tribal leaders, educators and elders. A survey conducted by the state Department of Education indicated use of the Essential Understandings by 62% of teachers, but the survey was voluntary and hundreds of teachers did not respond.

Lawmakers advance bill requiring SD schools to teach Native American history, culture

The bill from Sen. Tamara Grove, R-Lower Brule, passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously one week ago. 

On the Senate floor, Grove moved an amendment that tossed the requirement that the standards be taught in favor of a requirement that the state’s Indian Education Advisory Council and heads of the education departments in the state’s nine tribes be involved in the next rewrite of the understandings.

“This amendment addresses the concerns of the education department,” Grove said Tuesday. 

Education Secretary Joe Graves told the Education Committee last week that the state doesn’t need additional mandates beyond math, science, social studies and English-language arts/reading.

Grove said mandated deeper involvement by tribes and the advisory council would mean Native Americans would “be at the table when the sausage is made.”

Sen. John Carley, R-Piedmont, spoke against the amended bill. He called it “a mandate of a mandate,” as portions of the understandings are already folded into the social studies standards created at the state level.

The state’s educators have more important things to worry about than Oceti Sakowin lessons, he argued.

“If we’re going to remandate a mandate, I’d recommend we remandate math and reading,” Carley said. 

The Senate voted 28-7 to defeat the bill.

Meanwhile, Gov. Larry Rhoden announced Tuesday that he signed related legislation into law that will require all certified teachers, rather than only new educators or those moving from out-of-state, to take a course in South Dakota Indian Studies.