Students headed for the summer Junior State program, previous attendees and students interested in learning to debate are invited to a Junior State Spring Mini-Conference to be held Saturday at the Charlotte Amalie High School library.
"We don’t have an ongoing debating program in the territory, so this is something students and teachers might want to take a look at," said Junior State organizer Marc Stridiron.
Attending the conference is a great way for students to improve their public speaking and critical thinking skills, share their views with the community, gain valuable leadership experience, and make new friends, said Stridiron, who attended the organization’s summer program in 1994 and has been involved in various capacities since then.
Junior State, an arm of the Junior Statesmen of America program, is a nonpartisan, student-run, civics education organization that has held programs for the nation’s high school students for over 70 years.
The program’s goal, both nationally and locally, is to “Make Democracy Work” by preparing high school students to be active, involved citizens, and to foster an understanding of the important roles that they play in the country’s democratic form of government, Stridiron said.
Through school-based clubs and island-wide activities like the conference, students increase their understanding and appreciation of government and politics by participating in debates, group discussions, and question-and-answer sessions with local leaders.
Two topics are up for debate. They are a local government-funded school voucher program and the recently passed federal Health Care Reform legislation. Stridiron said that one student will present the affirmative viewpoint and one will give the negative viewpoint. In between the opening and closing arguments, those attending the conference will have one and a half to three minutes to present their opinion.
In addition to the debates, the students will discuss whether the government does a good job of serving the needs of the younger generation and how government leaders can improve.
Stridiron stressed that Junior State does not take positions on the topics under debate and discussion. The goal is to encourage students to explore these issues while developing the curiosity and analytical skills needed to engage in the worlds of politics, civics and public policy.
Senate President Louis P. Hill will serve as the keynote speaker.
Stridiron expects 25 to 30 students to attend the conference, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
He asked that those planning to attend contact him by Wednesday so the conference will have enough lunches on hand. Additionally, those attending will receive pre-conference reading selections and updates on debate topics.
Stridiron requested that students wear business casual clothing.
The conference, including lunch, is free.
E-mail Stridiron at jsavirginislands@gmail.com or call him at 344-2434.
For more information on the Junior State program, visit www.jsa.org.
