Three St. Johns County students traveled to Haines City for the eighth annual Florida YMCA’s Junior Youth in Government (JYIG) State Assembly, where middle school students played the role of government leaders for the day, debating bills written by the students.
For two months the students researched and prepared bills on issues, chosen by them, that affect Florida residents. Mentored by student members of the Senior Youth In Government program, these middle school students perfected their bills in a matter of weeks and were prepared to present and argue the issues that were important to them, albeit in front of 75 of their peers from around the state. Of the 12 students who participated in the after-school JYIG meetings, three students represented their group by attending the State Assembly.
Junior Assembly is historically much smaller and less intense than the Senior State Assembly, which takes place in Tallahassee. The students work with high school mentors and graduate advisors of the program to hone skills in public speaking, teamwork, and understanding the importance of civic engagement. They also take on the role of senators and representatives while debating their bills, and learn the legislative process.
Of the 24 bills that were voted onto the docket, all three students from St. Johns County were included which enabled them to present their bills in the Senate and House Chambers. Both Katherine Sims’ and Katherine Scott’s bills were passed in their chambers. Daniel Kessler’s bill was passed in both the Senate and the House, and he received two awards for “Outstanding Legislation” and the “Lookout Award”
Created to prepare students for responsible leadership in the American democratic process, YMCA Junior Youth in Government introduces middle schools to the legislative process, and prepares them for Senior YIG in high school. The program enables students to voice their opinion on social and political issues at a young age, and aims to engage them in a world outside their own, where they become involved and concerned with what is going on around them.