OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Native American education advocates say Nebraska’s proposed social studies standards fall short of teaching a comprehensive history of Native Americans.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that the newly formed Nebraska Indian Education Association is raising concerns about the statewide standards that were unveiled this month. The Nebraska Department of Education is currently seeking public input on the drafted education guidelines.
The group wants the standards to better disprove misconceptions and emphasize local tribes.
They say schools should teach about tribal sovereignty and Indian Science and horticulture. They also want the state to teach about the centuries before European settlement when their civilization thrived.
Nebraska State Board of Education president John Witzel acknowledges that the proposed standards' approach to Native American topics is "pretty general." He says there's time to make changes.
