Join SDPB for a new episode of South Dakota Focus, with host Jackie Hendry, Thursday, January 21, at 8pm (7 MT) on SDPB1 and SDPB.org.
Governor Noem is once again calling for more rigorous civics education. Lawmakers applauded her remarks in this year’s State of the State address, but this isn’t the first time the legislature has expressed initial approval for civics education reform. South Dakota Focus looks at the current state of civics education in K-12 schools and what the Noem administration hopes to change.
Patrick Gainey, Department Chair of Social Studies at Spearfish School District joins Hendry to discuss civics curriculum in South Dakota. Gainey teaches constitutional government, American History and AP US History at the high school level. Gainey's students have qualified for the national We the People competition 21 times, including last year. The competition is formatted like a congressional hearing, and students answer questions about the development and interpretation of the Constitution.
For a look at the process of determining what's taught in South Dakota classrooms -- from state content standards to individual lesson plans -- Lori Walsh talks with new SD Secretary of Education Tiffany Sanderson and Tim Eckart, President of the Sioux Falls Education Association.
We'll also launch two new segments. "Pierre to Peer" will bring conversations from the the state capitol, hosted by Lee Strubinger. This week's segment discusses upcoming abortion legislation. In "Why Is That?" -- which brings historical context to current topics -- Seth Tupper reviews the history and controversies surrounding the state airplane, as Governor Noem hopes to purchase a new one.
South Dakota Focus
Thursday, Jan. 21, 8pm (7 MT)
SDPB1 and SDPB.org