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Description of Program Curriculum/Activities
Boys State is conducted in 49 Departments of The American
Legion. Hawaii does not conduct a program. As separate corporations, Boys
States vary in content and method of procedure, but each and every Boys
State adheres to the basic concept of the program -- that of teaching
government from the township to the state level.
A Boys State program, generally, is fashioned after the
government structure of the respective state. Political offices and
agencies that serve the people of a state would also exist within a Boys
State. Every Boys State operates under a two-party system with instruction
provided in the organization and operation of political parties at
different levels of government. On the average, a Boys State program
covers a period of seven days. Enrollments vary from as few as 25 to well
over 1,400 in a single program.
Operation of a Boys State
The supervision of activities at Boys State and the
responsibility for the full program is entrusted to its director. He is
assisted by an Administrative and an Instructional staff that usually
includes volunteer educators, attorneys and other professional people,
many of whom are drawn from the membership of The American Legion.
The Administrative staff has responsibility for
providing services such as a Boys State bank, a post office, a public
relations office, a first aid station, and a Boys State store.
The Instructional staff consists of those
individuals responsible for the educational and recreational aspects of
the overall program. In this group are the classroom instructors, the
counselors, and advisors for those phases where the Boys State citizens
'learn by doing'. They are selected for their experience in the field in
which they are expected to instruct and would include lawyers, judges,
journalists, law enforcement personnel and civil servants.
City Counselors are assigned to groups of up to 50
boys that comprise a 'city' within a Boys State. These Counselors have the
physical welfare of the young men as their chief responsibility, with the
supervision of city activities and elections also a part of their overall
duties. American Legionnaires and National Guardsmen fill many of the counselor
positions.
Political Organization
Upon arrival at Boys States, the citizens are assigned to
one of two political parties, the "Pioneer" and "Frontier".
Though some states may use other labels to identify the two parties, they
are in no way reflections of the two major political parties in American
government, but are established to allow instruction and participation in
the two-party system of government.
An effective political system is created in each Boys
State to operate from the precinct level through the State committee. A
breakdown of the political organization to its smallest components and
graduated to the state level may look like this in many Boys States:
- The City
- The County
- The Judicial Circuit
- The Senatorial or Legislative
District
- The Boys
State
Instructional Program
Here is found the greatest variance in any function that
makes up the overall Boys State program. However, these variances are only
in procedure since each Boys State adheres to the basic concept of
teaching government from the township to the state level.
The Instructional Program is carried out in three phases:
limited classroom instruction, functional activities, and general
assemblies. It is important to note that about 50 percent of the program
hours of Boys State are devoted to government instruction and practice.
Classroom Instruction is held on subjects such as
law, civil service, election procedure and parliamentary procedure. Other
special 'schools' are held to inform candidates of the duties of the
office they seek, and, following election and appointment of officers, to
instruct in the operation of the respective offices held by the citizens.
Some states use general assemblies to instruct on many phases of
government with individual instruction given for particular Boys State
officials.
All citizens of a Boys State receive instruction in
Parliamentary Procedure, and every citizen is expected to participate in a
special school such as law, civil service, election officials, peace
officers, office holding, civic planning, public safety, etc., when such
school is provided. Classroom instruction includes detailed explanation
and instruction on the legislative, executive and judicial procedures of
the respective state government.
Functional Activities start with a caucus or other
method of nominating candidates for city offices and conclude with the
election and inauguration of the Governor of a Boys State. Here is the
heart of the instructional program. The functional activities (citizenship
practice) such as elections, caucuses, conventions, operation of the
courts, legislative assemblies, administration of law enforcement, and
public welfare are government in operation. These activities take a
considerable portion of the time allotted for instructional purposes and
constitute the chief means through which citizens 'learn by doing'.
General Assemblies are for all citizens and are
intended as a means to spur enthusiasm and spirit, inspiration and
patriotism, political fervor and a real zeal for 'the American way'. In
short, every citizen becomes and integral part of Boys State, assuming
responsibilities and performing duties either as an elected or appointed
official, or otherwise fulfilling an assignment entailing the duties of
responsible citizenship.
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