PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — The South Dakota House Education committee passes a bill requiring the display of the state seal or motto in all public schools.
The bill passed 10 to 4 with some debate.
House Bill 1198 mandates schools to display the state seal or motto in a prominent location, such as the cafeteria or entryway to the school. The bill includes size requirements for the display, and how the schools can go about creating it. This includes student design competitions or plaques that are easily legible.
Proponents of the bill say displaying the seal or motto is about educating students about the state’s history. They also say it is about instilling state pride in the students.
Opponents of the bill argue state history is already in the education standards, which makes the bill redundant. They also challenged the need for size requirements.
(Kyle Ireland, SDBA, contributed this report.)
