TEACHER IS S.D. ENDURE NEW STRESS AS POLITICS, CULTURE WAR SEEP INTO CLASSROOMS

In the spring of 2022, South Dakota had more than 500 open teacher positions across the state, much higher than in previous years.

South Dakota teachers take on a difficult job and are among the lowest paid in the nation. But now, many new and veteran teachers are leaving the field because they feel stress from increasing political and cultural criticism of what goes on in school classrooms.

Experts say teachers are feeling stifled and walking on egg shells in classrooms over fears they may be criticized, sued or reprimanded if they say the wrong thing or touch on subjects that some parents and school boards find offensive or divisive, even though they have taught those same concepts for years.

Controversies have arisen across the state over teachers who try to create safe spaces for students with different backgrounds or identities. A protest resulted when social studies standards were altered by state officials to remove references to Native American history and culture well after a 50-member citizens panel spent months developing the curriculum. In Rapid City, the school board considered banning and destroying books that some administrators found offensives. In Deadwood, the board is considering a policy limiting what decorations teachers can use in their classrooms. And then there is Governor Noem’s ban on teaching critical race theory, an obscure yet highly political educational concept that is not even taught in South Dakota schools. Jason Connelly, a recent college graduate with a teaching degree, said he is looking for jobs anywhere but South Dakota because teachers are feeling as though they are under attack or overly scrutinized. One expert suggested that the qualify of the K-12 system in South Dakota will fall if more teachers leave due to a lack of trust or respect.

For much more on this topic, read the story at sdnewswatch.org