St. Paul’s School’s new Youth and Government club, which convenes in History Teacher Kim Gardner’s room 102, was created to instruct and inform students on the legislative process and how bills get passed.

Students should join the club “if you are interested in politics, polishing your debate and presentation skills, and want the experience of seeing how laws are made,” noted Gardner, moderator of the new club.

“I joined Youth and Government because I enjoy talking and debating about politics,” stated Philip James, junior moderator for Youth and Government. “I feel I will also learn a lot that I do not know about the passing of bills and how they are made.”

Gardner sparked the idea about Youth and Government when she was teaching her students about the presidential election that was held last year. The students were very intrigued and wanted to know more about politics. A group of students wanted to be engaged in the political process and confronted Gardner about it. Brian Logarbo, Social Studies Department Chair, suggested they create a Youth and Government group.

According to Gardner, the club will meet weekly to analyze an existing bill or create a new one, debating whether to pass it, revise it, or kill it. The club will take an overnight field trip in February to Baton Rouge to debate the bill’s merits with actual legislators.

To join the club, students can attend club meetings on Wednesdays at lunch and register to be in the club. The senior moderators of the club are Jordan Jacobs and Shane Kennedy. The junior moderator is Philip James. Students who may be interesting in learning more about government and how bills are passed are encouraged check it out, even if only for one meeting.