Top educator: Students need instruction on grit, resiliency

Stories of Joe Foss, Crazy Horse, notable state figures part of new 'South Dakota Sturdy' curriculum launched by Department of Education

The bravery of Joe Foss, the can-do attitude of Billy Mills, and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s mettle made each of those notable South Dakotans what they were.

And those stories of grit and resiliency are cornerstones of a new program of study developed by the South Dakota Department of Education called “South Dakota Sturdy,” unveiled Monday.

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A free resource available to elementary and middle school counselors for use in classroom counseling, South Dakota Sturdy is geared for students in grades four through six and is suitable for elementary and middle school teachers as a complement to their literacy or social studies programs.

“Growing up is tougher than it looks. It goes without saying that our students need this type of instruction,” Education Secretary Joe Graves said of the curriculum, which is intended to bolster teaching for students lagging in their pursuit of achievement. The lessons also offer opportunities for school counselors and teachers to co-teach.

Crazy Horse and the Corn Palace are also featured within the curriculum’s 10 lessons, each designed to help students develop a sense of responsibility and resilience in their own lives, according to the DOE.

South Dakota Sturdy lessons can be viewed online on the DOE’s website.