MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Education; Universities and Colleges
By: Representative Patterson
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD, TO COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOP AND APPROVE A SOCIALISM CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS AT THE SECONDARY AND POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION LEVEL, TO BE IMPLEMENTED BEGINNING WITH THE 2021-2022 SCHOLASTIC YEAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees for State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board, shall collaboratively develop and approve a Socialism curriculum for students at the secondary and postsecondary education level, to be implemented beginning with the 2021-2022 scholastic year as a requirement for graduation. The curriculum shall be comprehensive and cohesive to allow for a seamless transition and alignment of courses offered at the secondary education level, which shall be offered as a one (1) semester course and account for a one-half (1/2) Carnegie unit, with those offered at the postsecondary level, which shall be offered as a one (1) semester course and account for three-hour course.
(2) The curriculum shall be designed as an inter-disciplinary course which compares capitalism and socialism, in both theory and practice, and explore their relationship to democracy. The subject shall be approached from multiple perspectives, including: (a) normative, (b) analytical and (c) historical. The course shall employ the use of tools from moral philosophy, economics, social choice theory and comparative historical sociology.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.