TENNESSEE BOYS STATE
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Registration forms and fees must be received at American Legion Headquarters no later than March 30, 2012. It is extremely important that registration forms and fees are received by then. This year, Tennessee American Legion Boys State is doing on-line registration. Please click on the above logo for further information. To view the Tennessee American Legion Boys State brochure, click here.
To read more about this year's program, click here for link to Cookeville's Herald-Citizen article.
Tennessee American Legion Boys State will be held during the week of May 20 to May 26, 2012 at Tennessee Technological University. Delegates should from the upper third of the advancing Junior Class (B+ or better preferred) with the recommendation of the high school principal and committed to spending the entire week at Boys State. No delegate will be excused to go home for ACT tests, graduations, weddings, civic funcitons, ball games, jobs or any reason other than an actual emergency. If parents feel the delegate cannot stay the entire period, he should not be chosen as a delegate.
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 participant 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.
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. 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.
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The Tennessee American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a similar program for young ladies called Volunteer Girls State. This year Volunteer Girls State will be held during the week of May 27 to June 2, 2012 at David Lipscomb University in Nashville. For online details click on the above logo.
For complete information click on above logo