Secondary Student Conference
The purpose of the Conference is to give students an opportunity to discuss issues and bills relating to Education as determined by the Hawaii State Legislature. There is a Middle School level and a High School level track. The High School track has two main components of the problem-solving process: the Committee sessions and the Debate sessions. During the Committee sessions, the delegates’ discussion is focused on reviewing the bills relating to their committee that are being introduced by the 2020 Hawaii State Legislature, decide on the top 3-5 bills to present before the SSC delegates, and then research and create compelling cases to convince delegates as to why their bills should be considered priority for the Hawaii State Student Council to follow-up on throughout the legislative session.
During the Debate session, all delegates debate and vote on the bills that they find most relevant and pressing to be addressed, keeping in mind the students and districts they represent. The results of the voting during the Debate session will indicate the degree of support for the bills.
Upon the conclusion of the debate, delegates will be asked to write testimony (based upon the bills deemed to be top priority) and to submit them to the HSSC. This testimony will be given to legislators and presented when the bills are actually scheduled for hearings during the current Legislative session.
The Middle School track will have our 7th and 8th grade delegates learning about the functions of City and State government. Delegates will also analyze what they like about their schools and communities and learn how to address or suggest changes they’d like to see implemented in those areas. The experience will culminate in a presentation by the Middle School delegates to the Conference attendees as well as written letters to their respective legislators.
During the Debate session, all delegates debate and vote on the bills that they find most relevant and pressing to be addressed, keeping in mind the students and districts they represent. The results of the voting during the Debate session will indicate the degree of support for the bills.
Upon the conclusion of the debate, delegates will be asked to write testimony (based upon the bills deemed to be top priority) and to submit them to the HSSC. This testimony will be given to legislators and presented when the bills are actually scheduled for hearings during the current Legislative session.
The Middle School track will have our 7th and 8th grade delegates learning about the functions of City and State government. Delegates will also analyze what they like about their schools and communities and learn how to address or suggest changes they’d like to see implemented in those areas. The experience will culminate in a presentation by the Middle School delegates to the Conference attendees as well as written letters to their respective legislators.
The Conference and Hawaiʻi State Legislature
Throughout your time at the Conference, you will be partaking in activities and exercises that parallel many of the functions and processes that occur during the Legislature’s 60 working days.
As a delegate, you will be working with students from other schools across the State in a collaborative effort to decide on bills that you think will best benefit the students of Hawaii. You will need to research a variety of bills and make some informed decisions through a screening process with your focus group (similar to a committee hearing). You’ll need to gather insight from legislators and other professionals (seek testimony for support). Your focus group will need to meet deadlines (like decking bills to advance). These are just a few of the parallels you will see.
After the conclusion of the conference, we hope that you will track your bills on the Hawaii State Capitol website and actively engage in other bills that may interest you.
As a delegate, you will be working with students from other schools across the State in a collaborative effort to decide on bills that you think will best benefit the students of Hawaii. You will need to research a variety of bills and make some informed decisions through a screening process with your focus group (similar to a committee hearing). You’ll need to gather insight from legislators and other professionals (seek testimony for support). Your focus group will need to meet deadlines (like decking bills to advance). These are just a few of the parallels you will see.
After the conclusion of the conference, we hope that you will track your bills on the Hawaii State Capitol website and actively engage in other bills that may interest you.