South Dakota ranks completely the last in average teacher salary and 42nd in the spending per pupil. But its 1989 American College Test scores are among the highest in the nation. In knowledge and. skills South Dakota has a normal teacher combination--good, bad and the not very good. Nor does the state place enormous emphasis on academic achievements. Many schools fail to require enough homework and a proposal to require a foreign language for college entrance caused a storm of public anger. But South Dakota’s students have three things going for them: strong families, small schools and old-fashioned values. South Dakota's marriage and birth rates are among the highest in the nation, and its divorce (离婚) rates are among the lowest. South Dakota's kids are subject to the same troubles that tempt young people elsewhere--drugs, drinking and sex. But because fewer are in pain of emotion from home situations, fewer seek these troublesome escapes. South Dakota is also fortunate that most of its schools are small. Schools like these are often the focus of community life there are a lot of school plays, concerts and football games in school. And as much as a fourth of a local newspaper may be school news. It must be difficult for students and teachers not to feel that all eyes are upon them. And South Dakota enjoy the old values, everyone shares the same pattern of behaviour. A school's authority is seldom weakened by a parent, or vice versa (反之亦然). Which of the following is mentioned about South Dakota in this passage?