Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

Mississippi House Bill HB756

Introduced

1/17/22

Refer

1/17/22

Failed

2/1/22

Caption

African-American Studies and Racial Diversity; require SDE to develop curriculum for implementation in public high school.

Impact

If enacted, HB 756 will fundamentally change the public school curriculum by integrating African-American Studies and Racial Diversity as essential components of social studies education. This includes the need for lessons that address both historical events and their relevance to contemporary issues. By infusing this content into the curriculum, the bill aims to enrich students' understanding of the complex social, economic, and political realities faced by African Americans, thus fostering cultural awareness and empathy among the student population.

Summary

House Bill 756 mandates the Mississippi State Board of Education to develop and implement a comprehensive curriculum focusing on African-American Studies and Racial Diversity for public high school students in grades 9 through 12. The objective of the bill is to ensure that students receive an in-depth understanding of the contributions of African Americans across various historical contexts, emphasizing the importance of diversity in American society. The curriculum is intended to provide a chronological framework starting from African history through significant events in American history, such as the Civil Rights Movement, slavery, and the Harlem Renaissance.

Contention

One of the main points of contention surrounding HB 756 concerns the implementation of the proposed curriculum, as there may be differing opinions on how best to teach these sensitive historical topics. Critics may argue about the potential challenges in standardizing such a curriculum across diverse districts, each with its own community values and existing educational priorities. Furthermore, debates may arise regarding the adequacy of training for educators tasked with teaching this new content and how to address the varying perspectives within the community related to race and history.