MAVA Colleagues,
We are most please to share news concerning five juniors from Old Colony Regional Vocational technical High School who will be participating in the 2024 Boys & Girls State Program. This annual event is conducted from June 15-21, at Stonehill College, 320 Washington St., in North Easton.
The Old Colony juniors will attend the Boys’ and Girls’ State Convention sponsored by the American Legion’s Florence Eastman Post 280 at Stonehill College, 320 Washington St., in North Easton. They are being sponsored by the American Legion’s Florence Eastman Post 280 and the Old Colony Educational Foundation.
Superintendent-Director Aaron L. Polansky, stated “We are grateful for the sponsorship of our students and value the lessons in leadership they will take with them from this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
To be eligible for Boys’ / Girls’ State, students must be a member of the junior class and have achieved high academic success. Student delegates must also show evidence of leadership ability and an interest in the democratic process.
Old Colony Girls State Participants:
Kyah DaCosta, Culinary Arts, Rochester
Cailyn Zeppenfeld, Business Technology, Acushnet
Boys State Participants:
Noah Bellefeuille, Electrical, Rochester
Mason Ventura, Electronics Engineering Technology, Acushnet
Thomas Moura, Automotive Technology, Lakeville
Massachusetts Boys & Girls State is designed to teach democratic values, improve knowledge of government and encourage citizen involvement through an intensive week-long program that immerses students in grass roots democracy. Over the course of seven days, students create and manage their own municipalities and work to understand how our government functions. In addition, they form political parties, create a platform, and vote in a slate of officers that mirrors state government. They also elect two senators to represent them at a national gathering held every July in Washington, D.C.
There are three aspects to the program: academic, case-based instruction; participatory, learning-by-doing tasks of voting on platforms and candidates, and possibly running for office; and finally, social: meeting, working, and living with people from a variety of backgrounds from across the Commonwealth. When students arrive, they are assigned to a town and a party. The town is the group of participants that will study, eat and live with for the week. The parties are designated Federalist or Nationalist, and will represent what they decide, through debates, conventions, and votes.
The academic aspect is based on case studies that reflect actual problems faced by Massachusetts municipalities. Students are presented with a situation and asked to analyze the issue and make their recommendations. Solutions are decided by a vote of the participants. A series of elective classes cover the economy, government, and the judicial system. The last features the State Court, where individuals accused of infractions are prosecuted, defended and judged by their fellow State Citizens, all the while advised and overseen by practicing attorneys.
Learn more about the American Legion Massachusetts Boys’ State and Girls’ State organizations.
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira
