Jackson, Miss, Jan. 6 --(A.P.)-- The evoluion issue was thrown into the Mississippi legislaure today when Representative Robinson of Ittawamba County introduced house bill No. 19 to prohibit the teaching of the theory of evolution in the schools and colleges of Mississippi, supported in whole or in part by state appropriation.
This bill is almost a replica of the Tennessee law and provides a fine of $100 to $500 for violaions of its provisions.
Jackson, Miss, Feb 24--(A.P.) -- The ani-evolution bill passed the Mississippi senate today by a vote 29 to 16.
The vote came after three hours of excited debate, the bill passing wihout amendment in the same form it passed the house, 76 to 62, making it illegal to teach an theory "that man ascended or descended from a lower order of life." A motion to indefinitely postpone consideration was lost, 26 to 16,
§ 6798. Schools supported by state not to teach that man ascended or descended from the lower order of animals. — It shall be unlawful for any teacher or other instructor in any university, college, normal, public school or other institution of the state which is supported in whole or in part from public funds derived by state or local taxation to teach that mankind ascended or descended from a lower order of animals and also it shall be unlawful for any teacher, textbook commission or other authority exercising the power to select textbooks for above mentioned educational institutions to adopt or use in any such institution a textbook that teaches the doctrine that mankind ascended or descended from the lower order of animals.
§ 6799. Penalty for violation of law. — Any teacher or other instructor or textbook commissioner who is found guilty of violation of the foregoing section by teaching, using, adopting any such textbooks in any such educational institution shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction be fined not exceeding $500.00; and upon conviction shall vacate the position thus held in any educational institution of the character above mentioned or any commission of which he may then be a member.
1967年にテネシー州議会は反進化論州法を廃止し、1968年にアーカンソー州の反進化論州法がEpperson v. Akansas裁判で違憲・無効になった。しかし、ミシシッピ州では1970年に至るも抵抗が続いていた。
Mississippi Retains Its 'Evolution Ban'
Jackson, Miss, (UPI) -- Mississippi's ban on the teaching of evolution remained intact today after an emotion-charged debate in the state House of Representatives that brought memories of the famed "Scopes monke trial" of 1925.
A controversial bill to repeal the 44-years-old law was defeated 70-42 after one opponen urged Mississippi to "hold the line as a Christian state" and another charged repealing the law would "make a monkey out of the Creator."
Mississippis is the last state which still has a law on the book against teaching in public schools or in state textbooks tha mankin "ascened or descended from the lower order of animals."
A similar law wa ruled unconstitutional in Arkansas in 1968, and a federal lawsuit was filed earlier this week attacking Mississippi's 196 statute
This was the first serious effort in years by he legislature to do away with the old law, and it touched off the livellest fight so far of the 1970 session, "If this law is going to be repealed, let it be done by a federal judge -- not by the people of this state because we need all the Divine help we can get." shouted Rep. W. B."Buck" Meek of Eupora. "These are Christian statutes on our books and I believe Chrisians are still in control in this state."
Rep Ney Gore of Marks, said the law was a "restriction on man's mind and man's though and man's beliefs which the state should not arrogate unto itself
The debate rang with references to Christianity, atheism, and "egghead" professors. Rep Jim Turner of Carthage, citing the Biblical account of creation that God created man "in his own image," said repealling the law would "make a monkey out of my creator."
Jackson, Miss, -AP- Judge W. T. Horton rules Tuesday that Mississippi's law governing teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution was constituional because it "merely prohibits the teaching of the doctrine as true and factual."
It was the first step in a legal test of Mississippi's law on evolution
A bill to abolish the antievolution laws was defeated last month by the state legislature.
Horton said the law did not prohibit teaching of the theory that mankind might have evolved from a lower form of life... " but makes it unlawful to teach the doctrines as a fact and prevents the adoption of a textbook which teaches it as a fact."