Civics simulation

Sitting in a senator's chair in the Idaho State Capitol, incoming Coeur d'Alene High School senior Bobby Dorame saw things from a different point of view.

“Now I know what a senator does and now I know the challenges and now I know why it takes so long for stuff to happen. Now I know why something can start and change to something else," he said. "Now I get it."

Bobby is one of three local young men who just returned from the American Legion Gem Boys State, a respected and selective educational program of government instruction for 11th grade boys.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a separate but similar program for young women called Girls State. The Idaho program is Syringa Girls State.

"The most valuable thing I got from this was a totally new perspective, not only the way our country works, but also our cities and our counties," Bobby said. "I understand how stuff gets done."

American Legion provides the $400 per student. Legion officers begin recruiting for the program at the start of the year. They call area schools and ask high school counselors for recommendations. The selected students then go through an application and interview process.

“We send as many as we can,” American Legion Post 14 Commander Pat Tatum said. "It’s just hard to get young men to do it all the time."

Incoming Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy senior Jayden LaVecchia said he had this thought when he received the confirmation email: “I’m going to Boys State. I’m going to go do something most teenagers will never even hear about.”

Bobby, Jayden and incoming Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy senior Austin Mahnke spent from June 13 to 18 in Boise undergoing exercises in local, county, state and national government and learning all about the democratic process. The boys were split into groups, appointed to the "gold" or "silver" parties, ran mock campaigns and served in their appointed roles to pass bills and see what the world looks like through the eyes of an elected official.

"I did a couple city and county positions," Jayden said. "I got beat out during the primaries for lieutenant governor. I ran and I made city councilman, chief of police and county sheriff."

This falls in line with Jayden's plans once he graduates from high school.

"My main idea is to take a military route, whether that be through West Point or (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps), and from there do some active duty time, transition to the (National) Guard,” he said. “During my time in the Guard, I’m going to start pursuing political offices, whether or not that be like city councilman or county commissioner. My ultimate goal is to make it up to one of the two senators for Idaho.”

Bobby found his strengths to be in the judicial branch. He served as a city and county prosecuting attorney and ranked up to Supreme Court justice.

"It was pretty sweet,” Bobby said.

Jayden said the biggest thing he learned at Gem Boys State is how "we're a lot bigger than the political boundaries that seem to divide us."

"I met so many people down there of different political ideologies, different religious ideologies, of so many other things than me," he said. "The fact that we were all able to come together and agree blew my mind."

Bobby and Jayden delivered speeches that scored in the top five. All the boys were tested on parliamentary procedures. Austin said this was the biggest learning experience for him.

"It was interesting to see the type of environment that our lawmakers are in," Austin said. "It was cool to see how democracy works."

Jayden is one of just two Idaho boys who will advance to the American Legion Boys Nation, where he will undergo similar exercises with boys from around the United States during an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. July 22 through 30.

"Idaho has a very obvious political leaning compared to the rest of the states around us," Jayden said. "I'm going to be meeting people from Washington, California, Oregon, New York. It's going to be very interesting to put some of my own personal political philosophies to the test there."

In D.C., Jayden will also tour the National Mall and visit Arlington Cemetery.

"Two of the people there will get to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," Jayden said. "No teenagers get to do that. There's nobody in the entire country except the president and foreign dignitaries that get to do that."

Prominent Boys State graduates include Lou Dobbs, Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, Roger Ebert and Bill Gates. A young future president, Bill Clinton, went his junior year of high school and met President John F. Kennedy.

Bobby, who will be the senior class president and has been in student council his whole high school career, said Boys State provided an invaluable immersive experience.

"I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to live our country to do something like that, if you want to actually understand what's going on, to sympathize, just be informed and aware of how our nation works," Bobby said. "This is crucial, otherwise you don't get what's going on."

INFOBOX:

American Legion Post 14 is hosting a Veterans Dinner at 4 p.m. July 9. It will be held at Mountain Lake Bible Church, 2215 N. Seventh St., Coeur d'Alene, where the post is headquartered. The dinner is for all veterans and family members. Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans and dessert will be served. Guests will also enjoy live music.