Contact: Sammy McDavid
Some 30 Mississippi elementary, middle and high school teachers will be at Mississippi State Sunday through Friday [June 15-20] for the second "We the People" Summer Institute.
Sponsored by the university's Center for Civic Education, the special workshop for educators involves an in-depth examination of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Participants from both public and private schools are attending at no costs. Enacted by Congress and funded through the U. S. Department of Education, the limited-admissions program provides lodging and meals, a library of constitutional literature and a set of textbooks and other classroom materials for each participant.
Institute director Susie Burroughs said this year's subject area is titled "The Citizen and the Constitution." Sessions are led by faculty members from MSU and other Mississippi colleges and universities.
Burroughs is an assistant professor in the College of Education's department of curriculum and instruction, home to Center for Civic Education Mississippi and the state's "We the People" program.
Located in every state, the District of Columbia and America's island protectorates, Centers for Civic Education work to promote a more enlightened, responsible and actively engaged citizenry committed to democratic principles.
"'We the People' is designed to help teachers help students gain a better understanding of our constitutional government," Burroughs said. "In addition to lectures, large-group discussions and small-group hands-on activities, an essential component of the training will be teacher preparation for conducting simulated congressional hearings in the classroom."
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional information in the training program, telephone Dr. Burroughs at (662) 325-3747 or her assistant, Donna K. Pearson, at 325-7107.