Dakotafire Get your spark here.

We often think about “public education” in terms of where the money comes from—it’s education paid for by the public. But just as importantly, it’s also education of the public. Read More »

"Being grown-ups in our private and public lives means taking responsibility for whatever is within our reach. And politics is always within our reach ..." Read More »

In a nation where only a little over half of the people who could vote did so in 2012, apparently not everyone takes that responsibility seriously. Read More »

With absentee voting starting Sept. 23 for the general election, several entities are attempting to increase voter registration and/or turnout. Here are some of the strategies they are using. Vote605 app Voters can go to the websites of the secretaries of state for both North and South Dakota to find election information. The next step, according to South Dakota Secretary ... Read More »

How do you know if a strategy for civic engagement is going to do any good? Hahrie Han, a political science professor from the University of California–Santa Barbara, has suggested some questions that those who want to do something to improve voter participation can use as a guide. Ask: Does the action I want to take make voter participation more: ... Read More »

Is "getting out the vote" the job of the secretary of state? Read More »

How do we build trust in relationships so that we can make things happen? Read More »

Did you know that running errands on Election Day could help increase voter turnout? It might, if you’re wearing your “I Voted!” sticker. Read More »

OK, folks, roll up your sleeves: It’s time to dig into your democratic duty. North Dakota has five ballot measures this year; South Dakota has 10. (One additional measure, to allow corporate farming, was on the ballot in North Dakota’s primary in June. Voters rejected the measure.) You can find the exact text of the ballot measures, plus explanations by ... Read More »

Rural school districts face challenges from several directions when recruiting teachers. Baby boomers are retiring. Many small towns are losing population and vitality. Urban school districts often can pay more than rural districts. The education profession as a whole has become more of a pressure cooker with changing standards and more reporting requirements. All these and more factor into rural ... Read More »