A professor at Black Hills State University is asking for $150,000 in state funding to create a Center for American Exceptionalism. The House Committee on Appropriations approved the expenditure by a vote of 8 to 1 on Thursday, Feb. 16.
House Bill 1070’s sponsor says the curriculum developed by the center will battle communism by instilling a love of country in students.
Rep. Scott Odenbach told the appropriations committee that just a few U.S. textbook companies have a monopoly on school curricula. He said the Center for American Exceptionalism intends to draft a textbook that aligns with South Dakota values and create a curriculum aimed at students in kindergarten through college.
“I think that we can have a curriculum that teaches yes, this country has made some mistakes in the past,” he said. “But it’s still our country, our home; we love it and we’re proud of it. It’s the greatest country in the world.”
Odenbach said he has talked with blue-state refugees who advise him how South Dakota can keep attracting people and developing economically.
“Keep your education system from ‘going woke,’ if you will, and keep it a place where folks who frankly love this country and want common sense and freedom can come and know it’s still going to be America,” Odenbach said.
The bill also had a public hearing in the House Education Committee on Jan. 23, where proponents and opponents hashed it out more thoroughly.
The bill has now been amended to include educators in the development of the proposed curriculum.
Rep. Linda Duba voted against funding the center. She said she has not been contacted by any educators who support the bill, and she pointed out that the Board of Regents and BHSU administrators have not testified in favor of it.
Duba also said the BHSU curriculum would run up against a current state social studies design now in development at state expense.
“How are they going to work together?” she asked. “How are they going to clash? Which curriculum are the school districts going to use?”
Other committee members asked if the proposed BHSU center would be a one-time financial commitment or an ongoing expense. They concluded they’d fund it this year and see what develops.
The bill still needs approval on the floor of each chamber before it can head to the governor’s desk.
