What is Oklahoma Boys State?
Oklahoma American Legion Boys State is an intense week of non-partisan leadership, government, and patriotism sponsored by the American Legion of Oklahoma. Delegates to Boys State have just completed their junior year of high school and have been selected by their local American Legion Post as a representative of the best of their community. Boys State was established in the 1930s as a way to counter anti-American activity during the pre-World War II era. It was so successful as a citizenship training activity that is remains the premier program of its type in the United States.
"That week taught me how to assert myself in competition with so many of the state's top student-athletes -- how to lead"
-Skip Bayless
For one week, Oklahoma’s finest young men, Legionnaires, and other outstanding volunteers gather to study the government of Oklahoma through classroom work and various simulations. Simulations include a mock legislature, state executive offices, and a court system. In addition to classroom work, instruction also features a Leadership Academy and a Law School for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement officers, and an Emergency Management/Response school where delegates learn how communities and the state respond to crisis.
Delegates are randomly assigned as members of two synthetic parties, Boomers and Sooners. These two parties in no way represent existing political parties and the platform of each is solely the creation of the members. The program is non-partisan and non-political in every sense. Delegates will consider problems and exercises without any reference to existing political parties or philosophies. The sole purpose of the Government Practicum is to enable delegates to grasp the meaning of the responsibilities they will be called upon to assume as adults. An integral part of the program involves outstanding speakers from all areas of government as well as patriotic speakers who inspire delegates to an increased love and respect for their country.
America’s veterans are recognized and honored during the week. Delegates are encouraged to interact fully through the simulations as well as through city, county, and state activities. Boys State features a band, a choir, a talent show, and a wide variety of sports and other activities. Delegates are encouraged to bring small instruments and appropriate sports equipment and clothing. They live with about sixty others delegates on college dormitory floors called “cities” where, in simulation, they organize and operate their own government prior to establishing county and state governments. New friends, new ideas, and reinforced values are just a few of the byproducts of this excellent week. In addition, college credit is available for Boys State and delegates can earn two or three hours by enrolling with the host University and completing the assigned tests and written work.
What Boys State is not
You may have heard the story of the blind men in India who were asked to describe an elephant using only their sense of touch. The first, grabbing the elephant’s leg said, “it feels like a tree,” another holding the trunk stated, “it feels like a snake,” while a third grasping the tail defined it “like a rope.” Delegates from Boys State often come home with descriptions, which, depending on their perspective and focus may be equally disparate.
- Despite what you may have heard, Boys State is NOT a leadership seminar although delegates have an excellent opportunity to lead during the week.
- It is NOT a sports camp but delegates do have the chance to compete athletically with many of Oklahoma’s premier athletes during recreation periods.
- It is NOT a government course, even though instruction in state and local government is provided for college credit if the delegate chooses.
- Boys State is NOT military or religious training, but the subjects of patriotism and faith are an important, integral part of the Boys State Experience.
What then is Boys State? It is none of the above because it is all of the above. The motto of the sponsoring American Legion, “For God and Country” serves as a backbone that supports our intensive week-long discovery of the essence of civic duty, citizenship and understanding of the American way of life from a participatory perspective. The delegate will not only learn how the American System of government and politics works theoretically, but also in a hands-on laboratory setting. He will experience all of this as one of Oklahoma’s 700 “best and brightest” high school seniors to be. It has been described as, and is “The week that shapes a lifetime”