MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Ferris

Senate Concurrent Resolution 568

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE VICKSBURG HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR GOVERNMENT CLASS FOR WINNING THE STATE "WE THE PEOPLE..." COMPETITION AND ADVANCING TO THE NATIONAL COMPETITION IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND COMMENDING TEACHER-SPONSOR SHERRY FISHER UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT. 

WHEREAS, the Vicksburg High School senior advanced placement U.S. Government class won the state "We The People..." competition in Jackson, Mississippi, in December 1996, earning the chance to compete in the national competition in Washington, D.C., in April of this year; and

WHEREAS, this was the first "We The People..." state victory for the Vicksburg High School team; and

WHEREAS, the "We The People..." program, administered by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, began in 1987 under the auspices of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, includes members of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate and hundreds of professional, business, and community organizations across the nation, and has as its purpose teaching students about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division has been the Mississippi coordinator for the "We The People..." program since 1992, and annually distributes 1,800 free textbooks of "We The People..." materials and conducts a Statewide We the People...Teachers Training Workshop for sponsoring teachers annually; and

WHEREAS, under the program, entire classes, working cooperatively, prepare and present statements and answer questions on constitutional topics before a panel of community representatives acting as congressional committee members, and are encouraged to participate in annual competitive hearings held at the congressional district, state and national levels; and

WHEREAS, with plans to retire in May, teacher-sponsor Sherry Fisher has reason to be particularly proud of this year's championship team as she assists the state coordinator and lawyers from across the state to train for the national competition; and

WHEREAS, Sherry is retiring after a 34-year teaching career with the Vicksburg Public School District, during which time she was named Mississippi Second Congressional District Teacher of the Year in 1989, Mississippi State Teacher of the Year in 1989, received the "Excellence in Teaching" award by the National Council of Negro Women in Washington, D.C., in 1990, participated as member and officer in N.E.A., M.A.E., V.A.E., the local Textbook Rating Committee, the Mayor's Drug Advisory Council, the Mississippi Council of Social Studies, the Curriculum Development and Consolidation Committee, served as student council faculty advisor, and since 1995 has coordinated the school's "We The People..." program; and

WHEREAS, based upon the superior performance of participating students at all levels, the "We The People..." program is a great instructional success by increasing students' knowledge of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and Vicksburg High School's team brings honor to the State of Mississippi and recognizes excellence in our public school system by representing Mississippi in the 1997 national "We The People..." competition:

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Vicksburg High School senior government class for winning the state "We The People..." competition and wish them success as they advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C., and commend and congratulate teacher-sponsor Ms. Sherry Fisher upon the occasion of her retirement after 34 years in the Vicksburg Public School District, wishing her success in her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Vicksburg High School senior government class "We The People..." competition team, teacher-sponsor Sherry Fisher, and that copies be made available to members of the Capitol Press Corps.