Students get to ‘Know Your Government’

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Six students from Jefferson County were among more than 250 high school students and adults from across Washington who took part in a recent visit to the state capital to discuss how to restore civil public discourse on political issues.

Port Townsend High School’s Wes Blue, Stella Jorgensen and River Kisler were joined by Kyle Caldwell and Eugenia and Viola Frank of the Chimacum Pi Program in Olympia from Feb. 16-19 to participate in this year’s Know Your Government program conducted by 4-H.

Tanya Barnett, who serves as the 4-H Youth Development coordinator for the Washington State University Extension office in Jefferson County, explained this year’s program theme, “Citizenship and Media,” was developed in response to concerns about so-called “fake news” and “a lack of genuine civic discourse.”

The four-day conference touched upon issues being weighed by the state Legislature, including homelessness, opioid addiction and immigration.

“Not only did these students delve into polarizing topics, but they also made use of social media to involve the general public more deeply in conversations on these topics,” Barnett said, who noted several of those online conversations can still be seen at wa4hknowyourgovern.wixsite.com/blog.

The Jefferson County students were able to spend time with their own representative, Mike Chapman, of the 24th District, sharing their concerns with him while learning more about the process of governance.

Sophomore Stella Jorgensen had taken part in Know Your Government last year, during which she credited the program with teaching her to collaborate with others, “even if it wasn’t something I 100 percent agreed with.”

Jorgensen returned to Know Your Government this year, and just as the previous year had challenged her to listen in earnest to differing opinions and perspectives, this year tested her objectivity, as she again met with fellow youths from across the state.

“It helped me to gain a better understanding of students outside of my small local world,” Jorgensen said. “I learned about Hanford in the context of working to take an unbiased stance about an issue, though that was challenging with the topic of Hanford.”

Hanford is the site of a decommissioned nuclear production facility. Not only do the U.S. Department of Energy’s efforts to clean it up remain ongoing, but they continued uninterrupted even through the recent government shutdown.

Viola Frank is a freshman in the Chimacum Pi Program, and while she was a first-timer this year, her assessment of Know Your Government dovetailed with that of Jorgensen.

“I developed social media and teamwork skills that I will surely use throughout the rest of my life,” she said. “It was incredible, and I would gladly attend again.”

Eugenia Frank likewise credited the program with “really opening my eyes” to other points of view and ways of thinking.

“My fellow high school students and I were able to talk seriously about big issues facing our state, nation and world,” Eugenia Frank said. “If Know Your Government attendees are our future, I think it’s a bright one.”

Barnett noted next year’s program would focus on elections and party platforms, to coincide with the 2020 elections, by tasking students with developing political platforms and campaigns for candidates who will run for the office of Know Your Government governor.

“All students come away with a one-of-a-kind, in-depth experience of state government and skills related to critical thinking, problem-solving, effective leadership, societal change and respectful communication,” Barnett said.

Many Know Your Government students earn academic and community service credits for their participation in the program, and local support for those students comes largely from individual donors, as well as local businesses such as the Chimacum Corner Farmstand and the Finnriver Farm and Cidery.