|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, Texas American Legion Boys State is celebrating the |
|
80th anniversary of its founding in 2019, providing a fitting |
|
opportunity to pay tribute to this outstanding educational program; |
|
and |
|
WHEREAS, One of the most respected civics education programs |
|
for high school students in the nation, American Legion Boys State |
|
brings together participants to learn about government through |
|
role-playing exercises, including running for office, organizing a |
|
government, and introducing and debating bills in a legislature; |
|
the program was created in Illinois in 1934, and the national |
|
organization adopted the plan in 1935; today, 48 states conduct a |
|
Boys State each year, and the American Legion Auxiliary also |
|
sponsors a program for young women called Girls State; and |
|
WHEREAS, At its annual convention in Waco in 1939, the Texas |
|
Department of the American Legion mandated the establishment of a |
|
Boys State program in the Lone Star State, and the first group of |
|
participants met on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin |
|
in June 1940; in addition to developing a government complete with |
|
elected city, county, and state officials, a legislature, and |
|
courts, the youths published a daily newspaper and attended |
|
lectures by counselors on such subjects as the U.S. Constitution |
|
and the branches of government; and |
|
WHEREAS, Today, several hundred student leaders take part in |
|
Boys State each summer at The University of Texas; selected on a |
|
competitive basis by local high schools and American Legion posts |
|
from across the state, these notable young Texans are mentored by |
|
dedicated volunteers who include members of the American Legion, |
|
legislators, and former Boys Staters, many of whom have gone on to |
|
excel in such fields as education, law, and government; and |
|
WHEREAS, By nurturing the techniques and ideals of our |
|
representative republic, Texas American Legion Boys State is |
|
helping young people develop the understanding, insight, and skills |
|
necessary to become the leaders of tomorrow; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
|
Legislature hereby commemorate the 80th anniversary of American |
|
Legion Boys State in Texas and extend to all those associated with |
|
the program sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
|
further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for Texas American Legion Boys State as an expression of |
|
high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |