MC students talk politics

Published 8:50 pm Tuesday, May 25, 2010

MILL CREEK — A delegation of eighth-graders from Heatherwood Middle School in Mill Creek are not afraid of conflict. In fact, they eagerly debate the issues and change a few opinions in the process.

Earlier this month, the group of 26 students attended the Washington YMCA Youth and Government conference in Olympia.

About 500 students from around the state participated, mainly high school students. The eighth-graders served as pages and debated bills they wrote, then worked their way through a student-run Senate and House of Representatives.

The students debated such topics as implementing a harsher penalty for flag burning, allowing gay marriage and lowering the age of minors to be eligible for work permits.

“It gets kids connected and helps them clarify their value systems,” said Cory Armstrong-Hoss, associate executive director of the Mukilteo YMCA.

Armstrong-Hoss said he didn’t measure success based on whether a bill passed or not. Instead, he was impressed when students believed in their topics and appealed to people’s heads and hearts while anticipating counter-arguments. Typically quiet and introverted students came alive during debates.

“They get this emotional high,” Armstrong-Hoss said. “They tell me, ‘I was so nervous, I can’t believe I just did that.’”

One student spoke from his heart about supporting the state’s “Death with Dignity” law, passed by the Legislature last year, and talked about a relative who inspired his mock version of the bill in student debates.

“All eyes were on him,” Armstrong-Hoss said.

Recinda Gerard, an eighth-grade teacher from Heatherwood, said she was impressed with how confident and prepared her students were during the conference.

“This gives students the opportunity to communicate effectively and participate through learning,” she said. “We need to give them more opportunities to express themselves.”

Justin Cho, 14, said he attended the conference to see what representatives do and endure the stress and satisfaction they feel.

Cho said practice debates in the classroom weren’t enough for him to get a feel for what lawmakers go through.

“I wanted to test myself against other eighth-graders and see how well I did,” he wrote in an e-mail. “I felt as if this was the final test for me.”

Cho said the experience was extremely exciting and different questions and ideas pushed his thinking.

Eleanor Peavey, teen programs director of the Mill Creek Family YMCA, said the program helps students gain confidence.

Peavey took high school students from Jackson and Cascade high schools to the conference.

“It reinforces their ideas are valid,” she said.

Francesca Cook, 13, said more people should participate in Youth and Government — even if the name sounds boring.

Cook said she made friends with students from around the state during the conference.

“I thought it’d be fun and a good experience to have under my belt,” she said.

Cook presented her bill which supported gay marriage.

“I think gay people should be able to marry each other,” she said. “If 10 percent of the population can’t get married, where’s the justice in that?”

Since October, Armstrong-Hoss worked with eighth-graders in Gerard’s and one other classroom. He taught students about researching issues, sharpening their public speaking skills and debating.

The students also learned parliamentary procedure and how to write a bill. Their debates began light-hearted, with whether to allow utility kilts, before advancing to heavier topics, like cyberbullying.

“We’re trying to get out what they’re passionate about,” Armstrong-Hoss said. “You have to care about what you’re going to talk about or it’s going to fall flat.”