Students learn lessons in statehood

Paul Clinton

Valkyrie Yuill doesn’t buy into the cynicism about government.

Especially since the 18-year-old senior at Newport Harbor High School

spend an intensive week learning about the process as part of a young

government program.

Yuill spent three separate sessions, including a week in

Sacramento in mid-February, learning how state government works. It

was a real-life lesson she said she would always cherish.

“I really like government,” Yuill said. “So many people are

passive-aggressive and whine about an issue. I like being one of

those people who takes a stance.”

Yuill served as the president of the delegation of 80 students

from Newport-Mesa’s four high schools that participated in the

California YMCA Model Legislature & Court. Every year, local students

participating in the program head to Sacramento and take part in a

game of role playing.

The students take on the roles of lawmakers, attorneys, lobbyists

and other government officials as a way to give them a real-life

lesson about how government works.

In addition, each delegation drafts and proposes bills that are

discussed and voted on in a mock legislative session.

The local contingent proposed three such bills, one of which was

signed by the student governor.

Celinda Sandoval, 18, a senior at Costa Mesa High School, helped

draft that bill, which proposed recognizing civil, including

same-sex, pairings.

Bills that would have amended state law to allow darker tinting of

auto and truck windows and raising the age children can enter

kindergarten to five passed various stages of the process.

The district offers the students school credit for participating

in the program.

“It’s valuable because democracy has to be learned by each

generation,” Newport-Mesa Unified School Trustee Judy Franco said.

“They get an understanding that is far greater as to how government

actually works.”

Steve Messenger, a mathematics teacher at Corona del Mar High

School, is the lead student advisor on the program. Linda Munoz, a

program director at the Central Orange Coast YMCA, also participates

as an advisor.

Two students who attend Corona del Mar, senior Mari Parks, 17, and

junior Cassie Carpenter, 16, said they also valued their experiences

in the program. Parks served as a state Supreme Court judge and got

to wear a black robe. She said the bills are a good proxy for voting.

“This is our voice,” Parks said. “This is what we view as

important.”