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Legion offers citizenship seminars

High school students can experience political processes

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One of the programs the American Legion takes a great deal of pride in is its Evergreen Boys State program.

"The value of this program is that attendees gain an understanding from the inside on how Washington State government is supposed to work," wrote coordinator Bob Schwartz in an email.

"The attendees build their own party platforms, elect and run their city, county and state government, learn how a bill is passed through the House and Senate."

The Boys' State convention will be held at Central Washington University from June 20 through 26.

The program has a bit of history behind it.

The Boys State program was created to counter the Fascist movement inspired by the Young Pioneer Camps of the 1930s. 

In those camps, young men of high school age were taught that democracy had outworn its usefulness and should be replaced by a new form of government.

To counter the advocacy of fascism, Hayes Kennedy and Hard Card, both educators and members of the American Legion of Illinois, began a movement, which emphasized the values inherent in America's system of government and to instill in youth the desire to preserve it.

"I believe in the youth of America and that given the chance, most will do great things," continued Schwartz, a retired Navy pilot.

"This is a program that aims our kids in the right direction."

The first Boys' State was conducted at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 1935.  Today, the program still provides young men the opportunity to learn how government works.

"The more that our youth know about how our government is supposed to work and how they fit into the system, the more responsibility they will take in that system, i.e., voting or running for office," said Schwartz.

During the intense program, which is open to those who have completed their junior year of high school, the following objectives are pursued:

  • Develop civic leadership
  • Sharpen an understanding of our government,
  • Understand the country's tradition
  • Hone a determination to maintain our form of governance
  • Emphasize the individual's obligation to the country and its laws.

Following a similar track is the American Legion Auxiliary's Evergreen Girls State convention, which is scheduled to run from June 13th through the 19th at Central Washington University.

The program is open to young women who have just completed their junior year of high school.

It allows the participants the opportunity to live together as self-governing citizens and teaches them about the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.

"The students learn about how government works at the state level through hands-on experience," read the website for the Tumwater American Legion Post 166.

"Several successful politicians have been Girls' State participants, including Washington Governor Gregoire."

For more information about Boys' State, visit www.evergreenboysstate.org or contact Schwartz at bobschwartz.wa@comcast.net.  For more information about Girls' State, visit www.walegion-aux.org or email Andy Dobson at adobson@quicktell.com.

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