Norma

Junior State of America - Ages 14-18

We have been holding meetings of our Ohio JSA chapter of home
educated teens for the past three years. With some members who have
moved or gone on to college, and others who have gone back to high
school, our chapter needs new teen members. And as we enter this
exciting presidential election year, here is a great opportunity to
participate in our government, hands-on. I mean, how can we change
anything if we are not willing to participate? As JSA says, democracy
is not a spectator sport.

I have been our chapter advisor and have attended most JSA events in
our region. I have to say that from what I have observed this is a
great group of teens. They cover the entire political gamut, from
anarchists to arch conservatives! For those intending to go to
college, this is an excellent activity that looks really good on
college and scholarship applications, too. Plus, it presents an
opportunity to meet lots of other teens, to socialize, to meet
important people in local, state and national government, to practice
public speaking, and to learn hands-on how our government really
works.

Our district holds its spring session in Columbus, OH, right in the
State Legislature, for Spring State and part of the Summer Symposia.
The other parts are held at Ohio State and University of Cincinnati.
Then our region's Fall State is held in Cincinnati (will be
elsewhere for other parts of the country, of course), and in February
we journey to our U. S. Capitol for Winter Congress in Washington,
D. C. These are all such great opportunities for teens to participate
in this totally teen-run group and all its great acitivities. I
really want to encourage others to investigate these programs, start
their own home ed chapters so that home educated teens have a voice
in U. S. politics. If you live in our district (Ohio, Tennessee, West
Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana) please get in touch with me. And
everyone interested can visit the JSA web site to learn more about
JSA in their region of the country.

During the year local chapters meet for various activities: debates,
thought talks, mock trials, caucuses, and lots of fun, the chance to
meet with other teens from all over the region. Founded in the
1930s, this is a nationwide non-profit non-partisan high school age
political group. We are looking forward to a most interesting year
leading up to next year's presidential election. Email me if you have
questions. Next big event in our part of the country is Fall State,
this weekend in Cincinnati, then Winter Congress with a trip to
Washington, D.C., in February. For more info on the Junior State of
America, a division of the Junior Statesman Foundation, go to:
http://www/jsa.org The server seemed to be down this morning, but
you can also phone JSA headquarters in California at: 800/334-5353 or
650/347-1600.

Now, of course this is not the only way to get involved and learn
more about politics, about how our country is run. Plenty of hands-
on opportunities out there, especially this next year. But this is
one that I know about that might work for some teens. I know it
could use far more home educated teen involvement, especially
unschoolers, and is very open to us. Check it out.

Norma
CATCH - Cincinnati Area Teaching Children at Home
Inclusive, Non-directed, Community-based Home Ed Support Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/C-A-T-C-H