We need funding to attend an amazing program Youth in Government for 3 days at the state capital this spring. Transportation, Lodging and the meals are part of the activity.
The students of Youth in Government are very diverse and bring so many races and talents to the table. The students, Bianca, Rosa, Dale, Azaz, Heidi, Blaine represent so many groups, Puerto Rican, Colombian, African American, Indian, German, and more. One of the biggest challenges I face with students and their families is having them realize school is so much more than a grade. That success in school is more than just a report card but it's learning how to become someone that makes a difference. It's about making choices for their life. While grades are important, I want my families to know, it's more important our student see themselves as part of this country and government. This program is amazing for the freshmen students because this is an opportunity to get them involved in civics at the high school level. All of these students are in a program of emphasis in legal studies and our goal is to move them to college classes in the high school their senior year to help them with success.
No other program puts the students in the middle of hands on in learning like this. Students don't read or watch, they BECOME, the leaders of the state. The students work for months preparing to take on their roles as Senators. prosecutors, the Attorney General, a lobbyist for the milk industry, or an advocate fighting for gun control. The question isn't what do they learn, but what don't they learn? My students will be there with hundreds of others working as a team and developing leadership skills. Most importantly, it models government in an action and directly teaches the students how to draft legislation and the bill making process. This program demands critical thinking and problem-solving.
In Their Own Words
Hello, all of us would like a chance to go to the program at the state capital this spring. We believe that we will have an opportunity to be part of something special and for most of us, it is a chance to see the state capital and what government really means. A few of us hope to work in law when we grow up and this is a chance to see the law in action. Four of us are working on bills that we hope will become law one day. This trip would be an opportunity for us to think about our future and who we want to be someday. All of us want you to know that we will be better citizens and when our teachers talk about how to make laws, we will have actually done that. At Youth in Government, the teen governor signs your bill into law. We can't wait to serve in the Senate!
We have to make the most of our time working to get our legislation passed. We have to be the leaders in our group and in our committees. We will develop skills as freshmen that many seniors do not have, we have to talk and persuade others as to why our legislation is so important.
If there is one thing this election of 2016 has shown all of us is that people want a government they can trust and believe in. It's so important that our school is represented at this program and that we are involved with learning how to be part of the change needed in this government. We are almost adults and we are going to be who the US needs to be in the government. The challenge is to get teenagers involved in community service and community action. This is a step to teach us how to be part of the community and the government.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Teacher Ryder Duffey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.