Governor Noem Asks Board of Regents to Preserve Honest, Patriotic Education
PIERRE, S.D. – Yesterday, Governor Kristi Noem asked the South Dakota Board of Regents to set policies that preserve honest, patriotic education throughout South Dakota’s institutions of higher learning. You can read the her letter, which was sent to each individual member of the Board, here.
“As governor, I have become increasingly concerned about a growing movement throughout the country to reject patriotic education and downplay the positive revolution in human affairs set in motion by our Founders,” wrote Governor Noem. “Our children and grandchildren should understand the full picture of our nation’s history – our fundamental values, our greatest achievements, and the long struggles to overcome injustice as well. Our next generation must also learn about our triumphs as well as our mistakes, with those mistakes being examined in context.”
In the letter, Governor Noem urged the Board of Regents to consider:
- Whether funds are being used to advance or promote the 1619 Project, Critical Race Theory, or any similar theory; or requiring, compelling, or otherwise directing students to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to any such beliefs or tenets;
- Whether South Dakota’s post-secondary public institutions remain a place of learning, not indoctrination;
- Whether diversity offices in post-secondary public institutions are still working within the scope of their original mission, or whether they have experienced inappropriate “mission creep.”
“I trust you will agree with me that we need to preserve honest, patriotic education throughout South Dakota – education that that cultivates in our next generation both a profound love of our country and a realistic picture of its virtues and challenges,” continued Governor Noem. “I look forward to working together with the Board of Regents on this goal.”
This past legislative session, Governor Noem advocated for and signed legislation to enhance civics curriculum at the K-12 level. She recently became the first officeholder in America to sign the “1776 Pledge to Save Our Schools.” Last week, Department of Education Secretary Tiffany Sanderson and State Historian Dr. Ben Jones wrote to the Biden Administration to push back on their proposed policies advocating for the teaching of the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory.
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“Patriotic education” is a pretty vague phrase. What makes an education patriotic? Is it teaching american exceptionalism and ignoring problems throughout american history? Who defines what is acceptably “patriotic?”
Why can’t she just do the job Republicans elected her to do? Or has she given up? Or is this just today’s post to keep her in the attention of ultra-conservatives? This shtick and her lawsuits scam is not governing.
Annie, maybe you can give us all your definition of ultra-conservative.
What do Ed and Hot Carl think? Bet they are pumped up!💥
Ann has proven herself to be a dishonest phony. Anyone who loves this country, loves its people, and is willing to say America is the greatest experiment in self-governance is an ultra conservative.
And he/she/it/sperm source/birthing person wonders why a Democrat of authority and broad esteem is rarer than albino 10 point buck.
Troy, do you mean 10 point antlered deer?
So, does a “patriotic” education require teachers to tell students that America is “the greatest?” What is the educators’ punishment if they don’t declare America “the greatest?” Also, how would this not be government mandated propaganda?
If that is what you think, you are by far too stupid to be a teacher. I pray you aren’t.
Please answer the question, Troy. Why is this not an attempt at government-mandated speech? BTW, I love my country–so I don’t need anyone telling me to leave–and I don’t feel a need for our state’s top elected official to be mandating what educators say or how they teach history.
Ann, I am just acknowledging you are stupid, dishonest and phony. Facts are what they are.
And what I read what Dementia Joe is forcing down as “history” your lecture is meaningless until you denounce the President.
As a lawyer, I would think you’d know better than to confuse facts with opinions, Troy.
“Why is this not an attempt at government-mandated speech?”
You mean something like critical race theory? You know that little pile of BS the DOE is trying to mandate?
Well, requiring the teaching of the 1619 project by a public institution is government-mandate speech, and it is also Marxist propaganda, so trying to prevent that is a good thing. The same with CRT.
The general run of public university profs are left-wing propagandists, and they are being overpaid to push Marxist, anti-American garbage. Shouldn’t the governor stand up to stop this sort of waste of taxpayer and student funds?
Well, requiring the teaching of the 1619 project by a public institution is government-mandated speech, and it is also Marxist propaganda, so trying to prevent that is a good thing. The same with CRT.
The general run of public university profs are left-wing propagandists, and they are being overpaid to push Marxist, anti-American garbage. Shouldn’t the governor stand up to stop this sort of waste of taxpayer and student funds?
It’s not about free speech. Teachers are government employees acting within the color of their employment, so it follows (in my mind, anyway) that they can mandate certain things be taught (see common core). My greater concern is that demanding “patriotic” education with a focus on the “greatness” of America reads like straight up propaganda. It’s weird because the Governor is encouraging the same sort editorializing from teachers that upsets her so from CRT Profs. It’s not enough to teach history, you have to tell the kids how AWESOME the US is or risk your livelihood for wrongthink? That’s a CCP tactic. But hey, maybe a change in teaching is needed. If Troy’s “NO UR A STOOPID! NEENER NEENER!” method of argumentation is any evidence of the ability of South Dakota debate teachers, we have a real problem.
Thought provoking analysis, Troy. Thank you.