A PASSION FOR CHANGE: WHS YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT TAKES ON PLATFORM CONVENTION

By: CLAUDIAN FRANCIS

Fridays after school at Washingtonville High can be extremely exciting for a group of motivated young men and women striving to make changes in public policy.  This is the day that the school’s Youth and Government Club meets to prepare for the Youth and Government Platform Convention.

Youth and Government is a national program owned and operated by the YMCA.  Founded in 1936, students all over the country are given the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in experiential civic engagement and public policy.  Members of the club show an interest in debate, politics, current events and civics.  Throughout the year, high schoolers from across the nation meet in groups within their schools to discuss and debate issues that effect the citizens of their state.

CLAUDIAN FRANCIS FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

The Youth and Government Club has been running in WHS for over sixteen years and has continuously been an extraordinary program for students. Over the course of the past few months, students in the club have  been preparing laws then debating them in model legislature complete with delegates, county/state officials, judges and members of the press. This allows members to have the opportunity to discuss current issues, declare laws to resolve those issues, and then present and discuss the laws with a group of like-minded students from other Orange County schools.  These students essentially have to be role models as well as positive representatives for their school and community.  

Every Friday after school, prior to the convention, students break up into their designated groups to formulate their legislation.  The members of the club have to use their rhetorical skills to influence their peers into supporting their group’s argument.  The topics are either related to federal, local or foreign affairs.  Platform topics that Washingtonville High School students will be presenting this year include: DACA immigration policies, reforming the electoral college, pesticide labeling in food, diplomatic issues regarding North Korea, and providing aid to Puerto Rico.

On the day of the actual convention, Friday October 20th, students will leave the high school at 7:40 in the morning and report to Minisink High School.   They will be returning to WHS by 2:00 in the afternoon on district provided transportation.  Though students miss a day of school, Friday’s convention serves as an exceptional learning experience for students to exercise their rhetoric and public speaking skills.  The convention is run solely by the students.  Though this may seem intimidating for some students, it gives them the opportunity to show their leadership skills.

Though medals and trophies are meaningful prizes,  these are not the most significant benefits that Youth and Government champions gain from attending the convention.  Mrs. Liz Bierling-Powers, one of two advisors for the club, stated, “The biggest prize that comes out of the convention is that I've seen many students make connections with people in government.  Lots of students have gotten internships as a result.”

The club’s advisor further articulated, “This is a great way to make connections that will help you beyond high school which looks great on college applications.”   She hopes that the students “...gain an understanding of the process of public policy….[and] that they gain an appreciation for how government works and how important it is for people to get involved.” 

Starting with issues that stir their passions, students that have been in the club for years recognize how exciting the conventions truly are.  Ryan Waaland, a senior at Washingtonville High School and one of the club’s officers explained, “The most exciting part of the platform convention is our ability to take action on issues that are important to us that face not only us as individuals, but other people all across the globe.”  In terms of what he hopes to be the outcome of the event, he articulated that he, “…hopes, of course, that my group’s law passes and we garner a good amount of support among our peers for the platform which was a lot of work and time and dedication.  Overall, I just hope to be introduced to other issues that I might not have been quite aware of and be able to grow as a learner of societal issues.”

Maria Derosas, a junior at Washingtonville High School, explained that her reason for joining the club was not necessarily to win a title, per sé.  The most important thing that she gets from attending is “..being able to go out there and meet people with different opinions and trying to understand why they feel a certain way.”  At the end of the convention, students come together and open the floor to any topic of debate.

Ultimately, the Youth and Government Platform Convention is an important event for all club members.  All of their hard work calls for an event that is exciting and memorable, while being a very educational experience.