PROGRAM
2012 Texas Boys State
June 3 – 8 | Austin, Texas
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American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each student becomes a part of the operation of his local, county, and state government.
Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935, when it organized to counter the fascist-inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a similar program for young women called Girls State.
At American Legion Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities, of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical, with city, county, and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus, and recreational programs.
High school juniors are selected by local American Legion Posts to attend the program. In most cases, expenses associated with attending this program are paid by a sponsoring American Legion Post, a local business, or another community-based organization.
American Legion Boys State is currently conducted in 49 Departments of The American Legion. Hawaii does not conduct a program, but sends representatives to the California 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.
The American Legion has established certain qualifications for prospective Boys State citizens. Following are the recommended guidelines that are employed by most American Legion Boys State programs.
- Only males who have successfully completed their junior year of high school and have at least one more semester of high school remaining are considered eligible to participate
- Any boy who has previously attended an American Legion Boys State is not eligible to attend a second session
- Only boys with outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty, and service to their schools and community should be considered. In the actual selection of boys as citizens of Boys State, merit and ability alone are the basis for selection. American Legion Boys States are in compliance with federal disability laws. Most programs require a medical/parental consent certificate signed by a parent and a registered doctor. The selection process often differs in the various Departments of The American Legion.
The recommended method for selection of Boys State citizens is for the school to recommend a list of eligible candidates to the local American Legion Post. The Post would then conduct interviews and select their representative(s) to the program.
