This contribution is from our friends at San Marino High School’s Titan Shield
By Maya Al-soufi ‘17
“Democracy must be learned by each generation” is the motto of YMCA Youth and Government. This is a program that allows high school students in the United States to serve in model governments at the local, state, national and international levels. It currently operates in 38 states, and Washington, D.C. The program was established in 1936 in New York by Clement “Pete” Duran and its purpose is to engage and educate students about the United States legal process. Their intention is to simply “create leaders.”
The model government includes the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government, guided by teachers, volunteers or Youth Government staff. The California Youth & Government organization has sponsored statewide educational programs for more than 70,000 junior high and high school students since the year of 1948. “People join from all over California because it teaches valuable lessons such as responsibility and about the government in a realistic way,” says Senior Jamila Seede; the only representative from San Marino High School at the San Marino and South Pasadena delegation. “I joined because one of my friends from another delegation would rave about it to me all the time. My favorite part is going to the conferences and meeting people from delegations all over the state!” There are delegations all over the state with the amount of members ranging from as many as 300 to as little as one.
For the full story, see the print edition of the San Marino Tribune, or download the e-edition or visit the Titan Shield website at http://titanshield.org.
