Contact: Sammy McDavid
A Web-based collection of information designed initially by Mississippi State's Stennis Institute of Government to aid school teachers now is even larger and available to all interested persons.
The university institute recently upgraded its SIGNET educational and research materials site to include what now are more than 900 separate selections spread among 11 categories. The site may be reached through the institute homepage at http://www.sig.msstate.edu, then clicking the "Reference Materials" icon on the left side of the page.
"When the John C. Stennis Institute of Government was created in 1976, promotion of civic education and citizen involvement in the political process was one of the three missions it was charged with by Senator Stennis," said institute analyst Stephen Williams. "This collection of information is one more effort we are undertaking to meet this objective.
"We remind users that this site always will be a work in progress," Williams added. "Persons who wish to make constructive comments or suggestions are encouraged to contact us via the site."
The categories and number of selections on each include:
--Interactive Presentations, whose three subcategories include How Congress Works, Public Policy and United States Involvement in the Middle East.
--Congressional Information (25), including choices ranging from the Biographical Directory of Congress to Location of Congressional Collections to Your Congress.
--Current Events (85), a three-screen-length listing of various media organizations from ABC Television News to the Clarion-Ledger and New York Times to Zogby International, an international polling and consumer research agency.
--Historic Court Cases (158), from U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
--Historic Speeches (260), stretching over history from Founding Father Alexander Hamilton to the current President Bush.
--Historic Texts (221), as in the Pericles' Funeral Oration, the Magna Carta, President Polk's (Mexican) War Message, Gen. Robert E. Lee's letter to Jefferson Davis after Gettysburg, and much, much more.
--Information Search (24), for the truly hard-core historical and political junkies.
--Lesson Plans (40), with numerous lessons in each section for teachers.
--Presidential Information (57), more than even Al Gore and John Kerry would want to know.
--State Constitutions (53), including Mississippi's three previous versions.
--Today in History (3).
"A great deal of time and effort has gone into the development and expansion of this resource," Williams said. "We encourage anyone with an interest in government, history or related areas to pay a visit to the site and let us know what you think."
To reach Williams, telephone (662) 325-3328 or swilliams@sig.msstate.edu.