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All citizens will initially participate in general courses of instructions on citizenship, government, effective speaking and campaigning, the legal process, the legislative process, law enforcement, and media. These general courses are akin to an “undergraduate study” in college. Later in the week, citizens will choose more specialized instructions in the areas of their choice, such as law school, law enforcement academy, legislative school, media, etc. These areas of specialized instruction are similar to “graduate courses” for MBS citizens, and will equip you with the tools necessary to effectively perform your role as a citizen of MBS and gain inside information on a variety of professions and how they deal with our government and each other.
Staff members who are professionals in their field teach the schools, although like so much in Boys State, they teach through doing. In the schools students will learn how to apply what they learn immediately within MBS and then carry that knowledge on in their everyday lives.
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GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE AND CAMPAIGNING
This school teaches the process of getting elected and then examines how to serve once elected. We help citizens develop successful campaign strategies, create positive perceptions, deliver persuasive speeches, and produce persuasive media. Citizens in this area also will administer and analyze the results of public opinion polls on elections and issues significant to Boys State. The course is taught by the principals of a successful, national political consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.
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LAW ENFORCEMENT
This area gives citizens a look at the day-to-day activities of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The school is taught by members of the Patrol, which has had a longtime affiliation with Boys State. Topics covered will include various aspects of crime prevention and the responsibilities of a law enforcement official. Citizens will be trained in arrest and trial procedures, which they will apply when elected or appointed to law enforcement jobs at Boys State. They also will be updated on the latest and most effective methods of police work used by the Highway Patrol.
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LAW
Citizens are taught the basics of trial procedure, civil actions, criminal law, legal pleadings and the role of an attorney in general. Law students are required to pass a bar exam prior to practicing law at Boys State. Law School prepares citizens to hold offices which require a qualified attorney, such as Municipal Judge. The instructors of Boys State Law School are practicing attorneys and judges.
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LEGISLATIVE
Taught by current and former members of the Missouri General Assembly, including the former governor of Missouri, Bob Holden, the Legislative School helps citizens gain a basic understanding of the workings of the House of Representatives and the State Senate, including how laws are passed. Citizens will also learn about the procedural and practical problems of the legislative process, including parliamentary procedure.
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JOURNALISM
The citizens who attend this area serve as staff members of KMBS-TV and KMBS Radio, each of which has daily newscasts complete with commercials and promotional spots, and of MBS Record, which is published daily. The staffs of the newspaper, radio and television are completely responsible for the content of their stories, and may develop editorial positions with respect to candidacies and operations at Boys State. During the focused sessions, citizens discuss the responsibilities of reporters and the basics of covering news events; advertising; producing television broadcasts; and libel and slander. Special emphasis is placed on the role of the media in political campaigns. The counselors for the Media School have extensive experience in media and politics.
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DEMOCRACY ACADEMY
This school combines aspects of all the other areas by looking at a real-life scenario from a local community perspective and watching how various governmental agencies would interact with the case. Citizens who attend will learn about how public officials make tough decisions while contemplating their public image (Government Executive/Campaigning), how journalists inform the public about those decisions (Media), how police officers conduct investigations when a crime has allegedly been committed (Law Enforcement), how those investigations lead to court cases in the judicial system (Law), and how citizens can petition lawmakers to change policies to ensure similar mistakes are never made again (Legislative). The Democracy Academy is best suited for citizens who want a general education instead of specialized training in any one area.
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Did you know...
Each of the schools of instruction are taught by true professionals in their area who volunteer to work with Missouri's brightest young men.
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