Ever wonder why teachers keep showing up every day, even when it feels like everything’s stacked against them? You’ve heard the stories about teachers buying their own supplies, juggling side gigs, and getting way less respect than they deserve. Take South Dakota, for example: our teachers are ranked #46 in the nation for pay, and when it comes to respect, the numbers are perhaps worse. In fact, the recent State budget proposal and some legislators wanting even more cuts, indicate that we will be headed toward #50. Again. So why do they keep at it? It’s not about the paychecks—that’s for sure. It’s about making a difference.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: money is tight. In South Dakota, teachers are some of the lowest paid in America, and nobody’s handing out discounts for groceries or rent. Some of them hustle at second jobs, stretch their resources to the limit, and still find ways to fill their classrooms with supplies, snacks, and a whole lot of hope. Still, year after year, they’re back in those classrooms. Why? Because what they give can’t be counted in dollars—it’s about the lasting impact they leave on kids’ lives.
Teachers are holding the future, one restless third grader or overwhelmed high schooler at a time. They’re not just handing out homework—they’re the ones offering encouragement when a student is about to give up, or turning a classroom into a safe haven when home doesn’t feel all that safe. The wins that matter most aren’t standardized test scores; they’re the moments when a kid discovers they believe in themselves, finds their voice, or simply feels valued.
With shrinking budgets, crowded rooms or cobbled up spaces, and a culture that often shrugs at their work, you might think teachers would bail. But they stay. They stay because they see possibility where others see problems. They teach for the spark in a child’s eyes, for their communities, and for the country they know can be better. In a world that’s a little lost, teachers are the ones quietly pointing the way.
So, why do teachers stick with it for so long? Because real change takes time. Every day in the classroom is its own kind of quiet revolution—a promise to America’s youth that someone will show up, guide them, and never give up, no matter how rocky the road gets. In the end, it’s not politicians or CEOs shaping our future—it’s those teachers who ignore the hurdles and show up every day, changing lives one lesson at a time.
To avoid arguing, don’t discuss religion or politics. This age-old advice has probably never been more accurate but at the same time, never been more ignored.
Political discussions have become toxic, maybe more so since 2016, and especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even in South Dakota, which only has three electoral votes, and will likely never be a determining factor of a presidential election, we argue at the expense of community, friendships, and family relationships. It makes even less sense in our area of the state, which is nearly all Republican, that we argue and fight over partisan politics, like never before.
The difference between this era and past eras of political debate? Today it’s more personal.
Friendships and even families have been fractured by differences in political viewpoints. Members of one political party are labeled as evil or otherwise defective by the other party. Members are grouped together and associated with the most radical element of their party. Guilt by association.
25% of South Dakota voters have chosen to register as “independent” or have chosen to not designate a political party. This percentage of non-party voters is growing. The reason for this, in large part is based on their unwillingness to affiliate with one party or the other on ethical or moral grounds. And who could blame them?
The political parties have been working diligently to prove to all of us that they are not our friend. There was a reason George Washington warned against partisan division, and resulting elections. It does not unite, but rather divides along social, as well as political lines.
We are just over two months until the presidential election. As a lifelong Republican, I am watching as the Republican party does their best to put another Democrat in the White House for four more years. The political parties, led by their most extreme factions, have lost touch of the best interests of America.
Political party support is now being framed as a quest for a ruling class, rather than a group of people who share political ideologies and preferences. Both parties are guilty of this. And we are all guilty for allowing it to happen.
Next up: How to help change this.
Steve Allender is a former mayor and former police chief from Rapid City, South Dakota
What an unfortunate week this has been for South Dakota and South Dakotans.
It began with our governor promoting her new book “No Going Back” almost nonstop on social media. The promotion included a video of her, presumably at home, recording the audio version of the same book.
Advanced copies of the book were given to media outlets as part of the promotion- and that’s when the controversy started.
In her book, the governor apparently told the story of shooting a goat and an “untrainable dog” named Cricket several years ago. She wrote the dog was aggressive, killed chickens, and that she “hated” that dog.
Farm and ranch life is different than most city dwellers might think, and putting down animals is part of an unfortunate reality. I have the sense that she could’ve told the story 20 years ago, and people would’ve understood, or at least held her to a different standard rather than the current one.
To boast of Cricket’s demise during a time when society is at the most sensitive (if not unstable) phase in our memory, first appeared to be risky. It was only risky until she began to defend it publicly- then it became ugly. At some point, the dialogue with the media brought out the worst in her. Her response raised doubts and eyebrows and undoubtedly drew more negative attention to her book.
Noem’s book documents stories of her scheduling, then canceling a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron because of a comment he made about Hamas. This one may not have been harmful by itself, but it was accompanied by a similar story that she had met North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un. Her story in the book included her interpretation that the dictator probably underestimated her, then it made light of the meeting, claiming she had been a children’s pastor and was used to staring down little dictators. Well, this was much too much for the media to accept.
Several organizations went on fact-finding missions and ultimately confirmed that the stories of the French president and the North Korean dictator were false. This is where things went from sad to tragic.
South Dakota’s Governor, the highest elected official in our state, was caught telling bald-faced lies. Rather than be held accountable, she took us through an ugly cycle which included bloviating, exaggerating, blaming others, denial, and ultimately embracing victimhood. Governor Noem refuses to be held accountable for her lies and is willing to tell more lies in an attempt to dig her way out of this mess. Meanwhile, South Dakotans need leadership.
I believe the straw that broke South Dakota’s back occurred on the May 5th edition of Face the Nation. Governor Noem was asked directly if she met with Kim Jong-Un in North Korea. She repeatedly refused to directly answer, instead deflecting to her world travels and opportunities to meet other world leaders. Most disturbingly, she stated, “As soon as this was brought to my attention, I certainly made some changes and looked at this passage… We went forward and have made some edits, so I’m glad this book is being released in a couple of days and that those edits will be in place and the people will have the updated version.” When asked again directly about meeting Kim Jong-Un, she again evaded the question and eventually said she would not talk about her meetings with world leaders. This charade was repeated the next day on CBS Morning News.
There’s been mention of a “ghostwriter” and blame was even cast on the editor at one point. But remember – she read her own book aloud for the recording of the audio version.
Anyone who’s been a parent has seen this type of behavior: storytelling; lying; bragging. Governor Noem‘s response to this entire debacle is childish, if not pathological. She can’t seem to help herself.
This past week, I personally have gone from being shocked, to annoyed, to angry, and now to sad and worried for the state of our State. The brazen and public lies of our governor now cast doubt on other claims made by her. I’m not sure it’s possible for South Dakotans to truly know who she is, or to trust her.
What’s more worrisome is that one would think those closest to the governor would have proofread the book and offered feedback. If this happened, those same proofreaders knew she had not met with the North Korean dictator, but either failed to say something about it, or she failed to listen to them. Either way, our lying governor has now exposed herself and her network of close followers as being untrustworthy.
It’s one thing to tell stories. It’s another thing to assume everyone listening is too dumb to tell the difference between an error and a lie and also between humility and hubris.
During the March 6th Rapid City Council meeting, a council member presented a resolution to oppose the newly proposed social studies standards for the K-12 public school system. The standards are being proposed through the governor’s administration.
A City Council resolution in this matter is merely a statement expressing the City Council’s position on an issue. It’s not law; it carries no procedural or policy weight.
After several public comments asking for the resolution to be passed, and after roughly half the city council making comments, the council deadlocked on the issue, with a 5 to 5 tie. In this case, the mayor becomes the tiebreaker and I voted to pass the resolution. Prior to doing so, I made a five-minute speech, which has earned me some hate mail. One of them is below:
Degenerate scum? I beg to differ. Everything else? I also beg to differ. No facts here, just hate.
The proposed social studies curriculum standards should be rejected. The standards are not realistic. They are based on political idealism as opposed to the science and practice of educating young human beings.
It should be noted that the current social studies standards are a product of the South Dakota Social Studies Content Standards Revision Committee of 2014. That committee consisted of 35 individuals, 31 of which were educators. In other words, 88.5% of the committee were educators.
The Social Studies Standards Revision Commission, responsible for the proposed standards, consists of 16 individuals, only 4 of which are current or retired educators. In other words, 25% of this commission are educators.
Below is just one example of the proposed history standards for a first-grade student- a six or seven-year-old human being:
Although the standards seem to me to be ridiculous from an academic standpoint, they do not have the endorsement of the people who are actually trained how to teach your children.
But there is even a dumber part to this whole story, which is of course, that social studies are not a part of the standardized testing. This means, there will be no accurate measure that the standards are being implemented or if they are being absorbed by the student. So what’s the point of it all? Political gamesmanship is my best guess, but you are entitled to your own opinion.
As a Republican and as a public servant of 40 years, it appears a main emphasis within the proposed social studies standards has to do with protecting America from liberals. The weapons being used in this political war are teachers and students. Looking to politically suitable advisors rather than certified and experienced educators is folly and there is evidence this is counterproductive to Conservative Republican values.
During World War II, there was a study of 5.2 million draftees. It was determined that 36% of the draftees were unfit for military service and were therefore rejected. In a later study, it was learned that many of the rejected draftees had suffered from ailments that were brought on by malnutrition. If you think about it, the draftees were toddlers or grade school kids when the Depression started.
In 1945, President Truman started the school lunch program, as a result of the draftee study. So, pay attention to this: the government identified the problem and implemented a solution.
In a 2009 report, it was determined that 75% of Americans aged 17 to 24 we’re unfit for military service. More recently that number is reported to be 77%, but discussing this with Armed Forces leaders, they suggest it is now 80%.
Put another way, of the 36 million Americans between 17 and 24, 28 million of them couldn’t serve if they wanted to. The primary reasons? NOT Malnutrition. Obesity, poor education such as basic math and reading skills, and mental and physical conditions that would prevent them from serving. The military branches are drastically short of their recruiting goals.
This is fast becoming a national security issue.
A group of 90 former generals, admirals, other officers and senior enlisted personnel, agree that early childhood education is the answer. So again, the government has identified a problem, but where is the solution? Lost in the political war that rages on in this country, that’s where.
South Dakota is one of just a few states that will not commit to early childhood education programming, even though there is ample funding for it. Ironically, people of the same political persuasion that support a strong military do not support early childhood education or other programs that will keep America’s kids healthy and smart and able to serve. If South Dakota is so concerned with our kid’s educations, why not start with three-year-olds? There’s a lack of understanding that may be due to hyper-political rhetoric resulting in plugged ears and closed minds.
This too, divides us.
The division of America will not make us stronger. It will only make us weaker and make no mistake: it will please our foreign enemies. Extreme right-wing and extreme left-wing politicians are doing everything within their power to create two Americas: The Un-united States.
And I assume most folks are going to sit by and watch it happen. Some people will throw their hands up and refuse to vote because of perceived disenfranchisement, while some will think of the division as progress. In the end, we all lose.
I currently serve as the mayor in a non-partisan government organization. The non-partisan feature is the only thing that appealed to me when I made the decision to run for office. The problems in our communities will never be solved only from the Republican or Democrat handbook. Problem-solving requires ingenuity, flexibility and cooperation.
Causing problems on the other hand, requires nothing other than ignorance.
The Other 98 Cents 