Early Start 4-H Youngsters Study How Government Works

Brandon Stanley of Silverton gave such compelling testimony on a pending bill that Rep. Don Pischner, R-Coeur d’Alene, said he was willing to “offer him my chair.”

Brandon’s not old enough for a term in the Legislature. But he and more than 100 other 4-H members from throughout the state got a chance this week to see firsthand how government works. The mostly eighth-and ninth-graders proposed and passed their own bills in a mock legislature, heard cases as Supreme Court justices and learned how government works as part of the annual 4-H Know Your Government Conference.

Lisa Connors of Blanchard said her first impression of the Idaho’s statehouse was one of awe. “I walked in the Capitol and saw marble everywhere, I thought `oh my God,”’ she said.

Organizer Bev Montgomery said this year’s crop of students was probably the best group she’s seen yet. “It’s never too early to start learning about government,” she said.

The 4-H mock legislators showed their independence over the weekend by rejecting a number of bills their adult counterparts favor and altering others. They approved only one bill in its original form, and it was one they made up themselves. That bill would allow nuclear waste shipments into Idaho, provided 70 percent of the revenue generated from the waste is spent on education.

Monday morning, 4-H members ate breakfast with legislators from their districts and discussed the previous day’s events. Between bites, Marcie Joyce, a 4-H member from Blanchard, explained one of her legislative decisions to Rep. Wayne Meyer, R-Rathdrum.

“When they make a choice to be in home schools they make a choice not to be in public school activities,” said Joyce. She voted against a bill that Meyer and other representatives voted to approve last week. It would allow home-schooled students to participate in public school sports and other extracurricular activities. The 4-H lawmakers killed the bill.

“But what would you say to their parents? Those kids’ parents pay taxes too,” Meyer told the youngster.

Stanley, whose arguments so impressed Rep. Pischner, said, “I just feel that extracurricular activities are offered as a reward for high academics for kids enrolled in public schools. Home-school kids aren’t tested as much or like us.”

Another bill, which would have punished parents for their teenagers’ crimes, was amended repeatedly by the youth legislature. The students lowered the age from 18 to 15, and required community service instead of fines. They also exempted foster parents and new adoptive parents.

“It’s not fair that they can charge foster parents for the crimes of the kids,” said Frank Puyleart of Naples, who presented the bill.

“These kids are old enough to know when they do something wrong,” added Joyce.

Connors noted that the legislative process wasn’t an easy one. “Anything we had a motion on didn’t pass, so we had to start all over again,” she said.

The conference got high marks from the 4-Hers and legislators alike.

“It’s really nice for the legislators to come and help us learn,” said Jennifer Black, a student from Troy.

“I was in 4-H myself,” said Sen. Judi Danielson, R-Council. Danielson was one of four legislators, including Rep. June Judd, D-St. Maries, who spent their Sunday afternoon helping 4-H committee members learn the legislative process.

Chris Johnstone from Priest River said the event was well worth it, but that he “didn’t get much sleep.” He was looking forward to Monday’s big event, deciding a case as a mock justice.

“I’m sort of curious about sending someone down the river,” said Johnstone.