Mississippi News
Hundreds show up to discuss Mississippi’s social studies standards
Hundreds show up to discuss Mississippi's social studies standards
Hundreds of people gathered at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Friday morning to share their opinions on potential changes the Mississippi Department of Education is making to the state's social studies standards. The pushback was so strong that the department announced it was walking back much of the proposed changes.
Last month the State Board of Education began the process to revise Mississippi's K-12 social studies standards and received passionate feedback on social media. The department periodically updates the standards following feedback from teachers, with the last revision occurring in 2018. MDE said teachers felt some standards needed more clarity while others had excessive examples, leading to the 2021 revisions.
The proposed changes remove many specific names, events and details in lieu of more broad descriptions. Some people were concerned by the removal of the names of specific civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers, and others felt the new standards incorrectly referred to the United States's model of government as a democracy instead of a constitutional republic.
At the beginning of the hearing, MDE officials said based on the feedback they had already received, they would not be removing the lists of examples from the standards, including lists of names, organizations, and legislation and court cases.
Marian Allen, executive director of the Laurel-Jones County Black History Museum, said she came prepared to make a lot of persuasive arguments, but “we've already clarified that the people's names will not be stricken from the standards, so he has really saved me a lot of time.”
Angela Broussard said when she reviewed the standards, “it became clear that the basic tenets of family, our nation's founding documents, our nation's true history and the development of a healthy patriotism was selectively and calculatingly removed …The earliest days of our nation were framed upon the premise that people were taught to adhere to the word of God as a light to the path and a boundary to be governed by.”
The audience responded with loud applause after Broussard spoke.
Several speakers addressed their issues with critical race theory, including Sen. Michael McLendon, R-Hernando, who is the author of a Senate bill that would prohibit teaching the subject. McLendon said his bill ensures that no child will be told they are “inherently superior or inferior” based on any demographic information.
READ MORE: Every Black Mississippi senator walked out as white colleagues voted to ban critical race theory
Others spoke about the importance of ensuring specific instances of racial discrimination throughout Mississippi's history are included in the standards for students to learn about and discuss.
Alexandria Drake, a U.S. history teacher at JPS-Tougaloo Early College High School, brought about ten of her students to observe the hearing. When asked what they thought, her students discussed some people straying from the standards in their comments, and the importance of respecting all religions in a public school setting.
“I have been really disgusted today because I have seen and heard so much hatred,” said Ivory Phillips, dean emeritus at Jackson State University, who has been teaching since 1963. “ I was hoping that we were coming more and more together.”
The proposed revisions were put out for public comment when the state Board of Education approved them last month, and anyone can submit their opinion on them. To submit in writing, mail to Jen Cornett at 359 N. West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771, or email jcornett@mdek12.org. The deadline to submit is 5 p.m. on Feb. 4. Public comments will be presented to the board for discussion at the Feb. 17 board meeting.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Starkville firefighters get creative with new training space
SUMMARY: Firefighters at Fire Station 2 in Starkville, Mississippi, have created a DIY training room in an underused storage space to improve their search and rescue skills. The space is set up with realistic obstacles and scenarios to help them prepare for different situations. The goal is to eventually build a larger-scale facility for more comprehensive training. The firefighters believe that continuous training is essential to ensure citizen safety and respond effectively in emergencies. By practicing in a realistic environment, they can improve their response time and better serve the community.
The post Starkville firefighters get creative with new training space appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Changes how law enforcement handles mental illness
SUMMARY: Mississippi lawmakers passed House Bill 1640, limiting the time people can be held in jail awaiting mental health care. The law states that individuals awaiting civil commitment can only be held for 48 hours unless facing criminal charges. The aim is to provide timely mental health treatment rather than keeping individuals in jail. The law will go into effect on July 1. Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott believes these changes are needed to address mental health issues in county jails. While it's a step in the right direction, more treatment facilities are needed to expedite the process and prevent unnecessary stays in jail.
The post Changes how law enforcement handles mental illness appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
SHS seniors take final stroll through elementary school halls
SUMMARY: The senior class at Starkville High School participated in an annual “Senior Walk” where they visited all schools in the district to see former teachers and receive well wishes from current students. They were cheered on by students as they walked through the halls, taking pictures along the way. This stop was at Henderson Ward Stewart, where students in grades two to four showed their support. The school's graduation is scheduled for May 24th. Follow for more news and updates on Facebook.
The post SHS seniors take final stroll through elementary school halls appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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