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Anti-CRT in schools bill passes in Mississippi committee

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Anti-CRT bill passed out of Senate committee likely unconstitutional, opponents say

The Senate Education Committee passed legislation Thursday banning the teaching of in K-12 public schools and in the state's public universities and community colleges. If made into , opponents say the bill is likely unconstitutional. 

SB 2113 is among a litany of bills filed during the 2022 session that seek to ban the controversial subject. Both House Speaker Philip Gunn and Gov. Tate Reeves have spoken forcefully against critical race theory. They have vowed to ban the theory, which they say seeks to divide people by race, from being taught in schools. Supporters of critical race theory say that it is a misunderstanding of the academic framework, which examines the role racism plays in like health care, education, housing. 

The bill states no public school or public college or “shall make a distinction or classification of based on account of race” and cites specifically that critical race theory is something the legislation would “prohibit.”

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At the K-12 level, the Mississippi state Department of Education has maintained for months that critical race theory is not taught. Rather, it's a concept primarily discussed at the university-level — and that is where legal experts say the bill potentially violates the state and U.S. constitutions. 

It is unusual for the to specify the curriculum of public schools, especially public universities. Section 213 of the state Constitution mandates that the public universities “shall be under the management and control” of the Board of Trustees for the State Institutions of Higher Learning.

The bill likely infringes on the contractual right that faculty, especially those with tenure, have to academic freedom, said Matthew Steffey, who teaches constitutional law at Mississippi College.  

“Universities are set up with promises of academic freedom as part of their accreditation ,” Steffey said. “It's extremely problematic for state law to try to infringe on the existing contractual rights and commitment at the individual professor level and at the university level. 

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“Imagine a statute that says a biology teacher can't teach evolution in a university biology class,” Steffey added. “That would severely constrain a university professor's academic freedom.” 

Jarvis Dortch, the executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi, said K-12 teachers may not be able to challenge the bill if it becomes law, but that it will depend on the rules and regulations to enforce it put in place by MDE. Compared to university faculty, K-12 teachers have a more limited right to speech in the classroom because they teach curriculum that is set by the state. 

“I think we expect much more debate and dialogue in a college setting than we do in K-12,” Dortch said. 

READ MORE: Is Mississippi really removing civil rights history from its teaching standards?

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As written, Dortch said the bill is so vague it's hard to tell how it might impact students and faculty at the university-level beyond placing limits on speech. He pointed to a line in the bill that would prevent public schools and universities from making “a distinction or classification of students based on account of race.” 

“I'm not sure what that means but I know it can touch on a lot of things from the law school at Ole Miss recognizing the Black Law Students Association or a diversity program, any type of affirmative action program,” he said. 

The IHL board did not respond to a request for comment from Mississippi Today by press time. 

During Thursday's committee hearing, Sen. Michael McLendon, R-Hernando, told members of the Senate Education Committee Thursday he had heard from many constituents concerned about the issue in the DeSoto County public schools.

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“I have had so many of my constituents ask me if this is going on in our schools? Is there ever a chance of it going on?” said McLendon, who is the primary author of the bill. 

Senate Education Chair Dennis DeBar, R-Leakesville, asked McLendon if “basically this is a simple bill to ensure everything being taught in our classrooms is color blind, no preference of anything.”

“Absolutely,” McLendon responded.

Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, said, “There is a lot that needs to be said about this retrograde bill, about racism, about race and power in Mississippi.” But Blount said he would withhold those comments since the full Senate was about to convene, cutting short the Education Committee.

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Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, a veteran of the state's civil rights struggles, did ask why the legislation is needed.

“This to me is not necessary. It creates more problems than it solves,” Jordan said. “Teach the subject matter…As a retired teacher I think it does more harm than it does good.”

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Powerball jackpot increases to $935 million after no one wins the top prize

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www.wjtv.com – Matthew Knight – 2024-03-28 05:00:55

SUMMARY: The Powerball jackpot is now at $935 million after no winners were drawn. The Mega Millions jackpot was won in New Jersey for $1.13 . The Powerball jackpot has not been won since New Year's Day. The next drawing is for a sole winner who will be paid over 30 years through an annuity. Experts recommend taking the annuity option as it provides more control and protection for the winnings. Taxes will be withheld regardless of the payout option. Financial and legal advice is recommended for jackpot winners. Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Warming trend for Easter weekend – Home – WCBI TV

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www.wcbi.com – Isaac Williams – 2024-03-28 04:08:29

SUMMARY: The weather in Columbus, Mississippi will be cold in the mornings but warm up in the afternoons for the Easter . Thursday will be sunny with highs in the 60s, dropping to the 30s at night with patchy frost. Friday will have highs in the 70s, and the weekend will be even warmer with temperatures in the 80s and no rain expected. Next will see warm and humid with the possibility of scattered showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday. It is still unsure if the storms will be severe.

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Two Rankin County teens arrested for shooting death of 14-year-old in Jackson

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www.wjtv.com – Kaitlin Howell – 2024-03-27 19:16:28

SUMMARY: Two teenagers from Rankin County, Maxle Mooneyham, 16, and John Foote, 17, were in connection to the shooting of 14-year-old Cameron Horne-Crook in . The suspects were charged with murder and were assisted in their arrest by Rankin County deputies and Pearl . Horne-Crook was shot multiple times on March 25 in the 3500 block of Ridgecrest . He was a student at Northwest Rankin Middle School. The names of the suspects were corrected by Jackson police in an updated announcement.

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