Within the Commonwealth of Virginia, for one week each year, a new state comes into being. The physical boundaries of this state are the limits of the Radford University campus, but there are no limits to its usefulness in promoting real life citizenship.
The youth movement known as Boys State was originally sponsored by the American Legion to counteract Pioneer Camps which were being conducted in the United States by the Nazi Freedom Foundation. Pioneer Camps taught that although the democratic form of government has served its purpose well, it was outdated and should be replaced by a fascist form of government. Legionnaires in Illinois decided to organize schools to teach youth the American way of life—AMERICANISM. They believed that youth knew the rights and privileges they enjoy under our form of government, and that they would never support any “-ism” except Americanism.
The Americanism Committee of the American Legion of Illinois obtained use of the State Fairgrounds for a week in June 1935. Volunteer American Legion counselors assembled at the Fairgrounds to clean and disinfect cattle stalls, set up borrowed bunks, arrange meeting rooms, purchase food, and set up a field kitchen borrowed from the National Guard.
They had contacted all the high school principals of their state and asked them to select their junior class leaders to attend the new government school to study the Constitution and the government of the state of Illinois. Two hundred and thirty five high school leaders arrived to participate in the government school. During that week, delegates were asked to suggest a suitable name for the program. The name BOYS STATE was offered by one of the delegates and unanimously adopted.
Other states followed Illinois in organizing Boys State programs. In 1939, the American Legion Department of Virginia, with the cooperation of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, organized the Old Dominion Boys State. The program was not held during the war years 1942-1945. Since 1956, the official name of the program has been THE AMERICAN LEGION BOYS STATE OF VIRGINIA, INC. It currently meets each June on the campus of Radford University.
The program of training has been developed on the assumption that youth can best learn by doing. The mechanics of government are patterned after those actually used in local and state governments in Virginia. Boys State is a true democracy in that all of its citizens may vote and are eligible to hold office. It aims at all times to make its programs of training in citizenship effective by creating a wide range of opportunities for participation in all forms of government.
The danger of Nazism no longer exists in today’s world. Yet, our way of life is still threatened by forms of government alien to our democratic ideas as well as apathy among our own citizens. The American Legion continues to sponsor Boys State in the belief that young citizens who are familiar with the operation of our government will be better prepared to uphold its ideals.
VA excerpt from
Old Dominion Boys State, Inc. was first conducted in 1939.
Founder and Director: 1939-52, Judge Charles W. Crush. Past Department and Past National Vice-Commander, Lawyer, ex-member Virginia Assembly, and Judge.
1953-54, James F. Barnes, Ill Professor of Law, Washington and Lee University.
1955-75, W. Glen Rardin Assistant Director, Virginia Division War Veterans Claims.
1976-, Rex Tillotson Associate Dean of Admissions, College of William and Mary.
In 1956, the name was changed to The American Legion Boys State of Virginia, Inc. The program was conducted on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia from 1939-63, the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia from 1964-1972, and Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Virginia from 1973.
Boys State graduates are serving in local, state, and national public offices, as business executives, doctors, lawyers, educators, ministers, and leaders in all fields of endeavor. Former graduates include: Linwood Holton, former Governor of Virginia. Richard Poff, 20 years in United States Congress, now Federal Judge. Joe Holliman, current secretary, Virginia House of Delegates, counselor Boys State, organizes Boys State General Assembly. Glen Conrad, Federal Magistrate, counselor Boys State and supervisor of program. Thomas Peake, President Boys Nation 1957 Professor of History, King College, Bristol, Tennessee. George Blume, Ph.D., Extension Service, VPI, Boys State Counselor, 19 years and now assistant director. Andy Bradshaw, Practicing attorney, legal counselor of Boys State for 12 years. William Vest, Retired Loan Officer, Veterans Administration, Boys State Counselor for 16 years. Malcolm Minnick, Jr., Minister, in charge of North American Missions, Lutheran Church. Freedom Foundation Valley Forge Awards in 1966 and 1977.
Boys State Alumni in many of our high schools are putting into practice information learned at Boys State about our two party system of government (registration, caucuses, conventions, campaigning, and elections) in selecting their class and student body officers. Freedom Foundation Valley Forge Award presented to the 1957 Inaugural Speaker, M. Carl Andrews, editor of The Roanoke Times, for the following editorial:
“How proud the sponsors would be if they could have seen what happened at Boys State this past week. I have seen both U.S. Congress and the Virginia General Assembly in joint session and must say that these youngsters, with the expert coaching of adult counselors, staged an almost perfect simulation. I came away with the distinct feeling that Virginia and our Nation are going to be in good hands if these high school juniors are a fair sample of our boys. For one I am grateful for this program. It is one of the finest and most constructive efforts by veterans to protect and project the principles for which they fought three wars.”
Boys State 1939: 248 delegates
1979: 690 delegates
1981 : 750 delegates; 100 counselors
Ratio to male class members: 1 :46
The 1982 Virginia Boys State was highlighted by the induction of Legionaires and Past-Directors of Boys State; W. Glen Rardin, A.M. “Pappy” Renick, Charles W. Crush, Founder, Arthur James, and John W. Wicker into the Boys State Hall of Fame.
Recreation 3:00-6:00 p .m. daily.
City Tournament play in softball, touch football, basketball and tennis.
Extracurricular Activities 3:00-6:00 p.m. daily. CPR, Better Speaking and Parliamentary Law.
Ndani ya Jumuiya ya Madola ya Virginia, kwa juma moja kila mwaka, jimbo jipya huanzishwa. Mipaka ya kimwili ya jimbo hili ni mipaka ya chuo kikuu cha Chuo Kikuu cha Radford, lakini hakuna mipaka kwa manufaa yake katika kukuza uraia wa maisha halisi. "Mashirika ya vijana ya ""Boyz State"" yalianzishwa na jeshi la Marekani la kupinga kambi za wapiganaji wa kupigana za kupigana za ""Pioneer Camps"" zilizokuwa zikifanywa nchini Marekani na shirika la Nazi la Uhuru." Kambi za Mapainia zilifundisha kwamba ingawa namna ya kidemokrasia ya serikali imetumikia kusudi lake vizuri, ilikuwa imepitwa na wakati na inapaswa kubadilishwa na namna ya ufashisti ya serikali. Wanajeshi wa Illinois waliamua kuandaa shule ili kuwafundisha vijana njia ya maisha ya Marekani - UAMERIKA. Waliamini kwamba vijana walijua haki na mapendeleo wanayofurahia chini ya aina yetu ya serikali, na kwamba hawangeweza kamwe kuunga mkono "-ism" yoyote isipokuwa Americanism. Kamati ya Americanism ya American Legion ya Illinois ilipata matumizi ya State Fairgrounds kwa wiki moja mnamo Juni 1935. Washauri wa kujitolea wa American Legion walikusanyika katika Fairgrounds kusafisha na kuua viini vya ng'ombe, kuanzisha vyumba vya kukodisha, kupanga vyumba vya mikutano, kununua chakula, na kuanzisha jikoni ya shamba iliyokopwa kutoka kwa Walinzi wa Taifa. Walikuwa wamewasiliana na wakurugenzi wote wa shule za sekondari za jimbo lao na kuwaomba wachague viongozi wa darasa lao la kwanza kuhudhuria shule mpya ya serikali kujifunza Katiba na serikali ya jimbo la Illinois. Viongozi wa shule za sekondari mia mbili na thelathini na tano waliwasili kushiriki katika shule ya serikali. Katika juma hilo, wajumbe waliombwa wapendekeze jina linalofaa kwa ajili ya programu hiyo. Jina BOYS STATE lilitolewa na mmoja wa wajumbe na kupitishwa kwa umoja. Majimbo mengine yalifuata Illinois katika kuandaa programu za Jimbo la Wavulana. Mwaka 1939 idara ya jeshi la Marekani ya Virginia, kwa ushirikiano wa Taasisi ya Polytechnic ya Virginia, ilianzisha Old Dominion Boys State. Programu hiyo haikufanywa wakati wa miaka ya vita ya 1942-1945. Tangu mwaka 1956, jina rasmi la programu hiyo limekuwa The American Legion Boys State of Virginia, INC. Kwa sasa hukutana kila Juni katika chuo kikuu cha Chuo Kikuu cha Radford. Programu ya mafunzo imebuniwa kwa kudhani kwamba vijana wanaweza kujifunza vizuri kwa kufanya. Utaratibu wa serikali umebuniwa kulingana na ule unaotumiwa kwa kweli katika serikali za mitaa na za serikali za jimbo la Virginia. Jimbo la Boys ni demokrasia ya kweli kwa kuwa raia wake wote wanaweza kupiga kura na wanastahili kushikilia ofisi. Lengo lake ni kufanya programu zake za mafunzo ya uraia kuwa na ufanisi kwa kuunda fursa mbalimbali za kushiriki katika aina zote za serikali. Hatari ya Nazi haipo tena katika ulimwengu wa leo. Hata hivyo, njia yetu ya maisha bado inatishiwa na aina za serikali zisizo za kidemokrasia na vilevile kutojali miongoni mwa raia wetu wenyewe. American Legion inaendelea kuunga mkono Boys State kwa imani kwamba wananchi vijana ambao wanafahamu utendaji wa serikali yetu watakuwa tayari zaidi kutetea maadili yake. "Mfano wa ""Old Dominion Boys State"" ni mwaka 1939." Mwanzilishi na Mkurugenzi: 1939-52, Hakimu Charles W. Crush. Idara ya zamani na zamani ya Taifa Naibu Kamanda, Mwanasheria, zamani mwanachama wa Bunge la Virginia, na Jaji. James F. Barnes, Profesa wa Sheria, Chuo Kikuu cha Washington na Lee 1955 - 1975: W. Glen Rardin, Msaidizi wa Mkurugenzi, Idara ya Virginia ya Madai ya Wazee wa Vita. Rex Tillotson, Mkurugenzi Msaidizi wa Uandikishaji, Chuo cha William na Mary Mwaka 1956 jina la shirika hilo lilibadilishwa kuwa The American Legion Boys State of Virginia. Shule hiyo ilifanywa katika chuo cha Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia kutoka 1939-1963, Chuo cha William na Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia kutoka 1964-1972, na Chuo cha Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Virginia kutoka 1973. Wanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari ya chuo kikuu cha New York wanafanya kazi katika ofisi za umma za mitaa, za serikali, na za kitaifa, kama wasimamizi wa biashara, madaktari, wanasheria, walimu, wahudumu, na viongozi katika nyanja zote za kazi. Wahitimu wa zamani ni pamoja na: Linwood Holton, Gavana wa zamani wa Virginia. Richard Poff, ambaye amekuwa katika bunge la Marekani kwa miaka 20, sasa ni hakimu wa serikali. Joe Holliman, katibu wa sasa wa Bunge la Wawakilishi la Virginia, mshauri wa Jimbo la Wavulana, anaandaa Mkutano Mkuu wa Jimbo la Wavulana. Glen Conrad, Jaji wa Shirikisho, mshauri wa Jimbo la Wavulana na msimamizi wa programu. Thomas Peake, Rais wa Taifa la Wavulana 1957 Profesa wa Historia, Chuo cha King, Bristol, Tennessee. George Blume, Ph.D., Huduma ya Upanuzi, VPI, Mshauri wa Jimbo la Wavulana, miaka 19 na sasa msaidizi wa mkurugenzi. Andy Bradshaw, mwanasheria wa mazoezi, mshauri wa kisheria wa Boys State kwa miaka 12. William Vest, afisa wa mkopo aliyestaafu, Utawala wa Wazee, Mshauri wa Jimbo la Wavulana kwa miaka 16. Malcolm Minnick, Jr., Waziri, anayesimamia misheni za Amerika Kaskazini, Kanisa la Kilutheri. Tuzo za Freedom Valley Forge Foundation mnamo 1966 na 1977. Wanaume wa Shule ya Sekondari ya Jimbo la Los Angeles wanafanya mazoezi ya habari zilizofundishwa katika Shule ya Jimbo la Los Angeles kuhusu mfumo wetu wa vyama viwili vya serikali (kujiandikisha, makusanyiko, makusanyiko, kampeni, na uchaguzi) katika kuchagua maafisa wa darasa na mwili wa mwanafunzi. "Mwisho wa mwaka 1957 mtangazaji wa kwanza wa Shirika la Freedom Valley, M. Carl Andrews, alishinda tuzo ya Freedom Valley kwa kuandika: ""Jinsi watetezi wangejivunia kama wangeweza kuona kile kilichotokea katika Jimbo la Wavulana wiki iliyopita.""" """Nimeona Bunge la Marekani na Bunge la Jimbo la Virginia katika kikao cha pamoja na lazima niseme kwamba vijana hawa, kwa mafunzo ya wataalamu wa washauri wa watu wazima, walifanya simulation karibu kamilifu." """Niliondoka na hisia ya wazi kwamba Virginia na Taifa letu litakuwa katika mikono nzuri ikiwa wanafunzi hawa wa shule ya sekondari ni sampuli ya haki ya wavulana wetu." Kwa sababu moja ninashukuru kwa ajili ya programu hii. "Mwaka wa 1982 ""Mwanaume"" State ilikuwa na kuingizwa kwa Legionnaires na zamani-Mkurugenzi wa Wanaume State: W. Glen R. R. R. R. Martin, A. M. P. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. Mapumziko 3:00-6:00 p.m. kila siku. City mashindano ya kucheza katika softball, kugusa mpira wa miguu, mpira wa kikapu na tenisi. Shughuli za ziada za shule 3:00-6:00 jioni kila siku CPR, Better Speaking na Sheria ya Bunge.