Hands-on learning at Girls State

At the primary election Wednesday night, Hickman High School junior Aly Monroe found out she didn’t make it to the general election for governor of Missouri Girls State.

But that was OK.

“It was fun just running,” Monroe said. “I met tons of new people.”

This year’s Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, is under way at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg for its 65th session. The weeklong program for high school juniors ends Saturday.

Committee member and 1993 Girls State delegate Natalie Riley said the program is designed to teach delegates the inner workings of government.

“It provides the girls with hands-on training in the functioning of government at the state, county and local level,” said Riley, a lawyer in southeastern Missouri.

The 750 girls at Girls State are split into two parties, Nationalist and Federalist. The girls also are citizens of one of seven counties and one of 21 cities. Each city and county is named after a prominent Missourian or person who has contributed to Girls State.

Local and county positions are chosen by a caucus system. Delegates create platforms and use them to run for statewide offices, which closely mirror Missouri’s system. Candidates are required to file with the mock Secretary of State’s office, and then delegates campaign for a primary and general election. State Supreme Court Judge Mary Rhodes Russell will help inaugurate the winners of statewide positions today.

Monroe used her age — at 15, she’s younger than most of the other delegates — to help her stand out while campaigning.

“I went around all week, shaking people’s hands and actually talking with people,” she said. “I didn’t realize how many rural cities there are until I came here.”

Monroe, who said she plans to attend Drury University and become a teacher, said she will take friendships and leadership skills away from the program.

“I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime here,” she said. “Those relationships will help you a lot.”

Riley said five classes are offered every morning: media, law, legislative, executive and law enforcement. She said they are all taught by professionals in the field and that delegates are eligible for two hours of college credit through CMSU.

MU journalism professor Michael Grinfeld coordinated the media classes at Girls State, along with professors Sandy Davidson and Mary Kay Blakely and doctoral student Elizabeth Hendrickson.

“Our goal is essentially to show them what an integral role a free press plays in a democracy,” Grinfeld said. “We provide them with a general overview of media principles, law and how media works.”

Grinfeld, who attended the 1967 Connecticut Boys State, said the media class for the girls is a “very crash” course of the first few journalism classes offered at MU.

“It was actually a wonderful experience,” Grinfeld said. “They’re pretty much the cream of the crop of high school women. They were very intelligent and engaged in the lessons.”

Riley said that although there are several recreational activities, including a talent show and a picnic, delegates stay busy learning about government.

“Mostly, this is a learning and educational experience,” Riley said. “There’s not a whole lot of free time.” She said delegates usually wake up about 6:30 a.m., and the day ends about 10:30 p.m.

Monroe confirmed the hectic schedule: “I mean, we’ve gone through it all.”