Middle School students in Farmington, New Mexico, will compete in a statewide civics bee aimed at getting more youngsters interested in civics education.
The Farmington Chamber of Commerce has joined six other chambers from New Mexico to sponsor the competition.
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce did a study on how kids in school, middle school and high school, what kind of civics education they were getting, they realized that not everyone knew a lot of civics or their government, so they decided to go ahead and do a civics bee,” Jamie Church, president, and CEO of the Farmington Chamber of Commerce told KOB. “We have been looking for a way, a project or a program where we can get youth involved in what we do and so the civics bee seemed like a perfect opportunity.”
Before reaching the state-wide competition, middle school students must write a 500-word essay about something they would like to change, something they feel is important, or something they feel is a problem in their community and should be addressed, Church said.
Twenty finalists will be chosen for a live event.
“The top three of those, from the live event, will then be asked to, or invited to, participate in the state competition,” Church said.
All middle school students are eligible whether they attend public or private schools or are homeschooled, according to KOB. Essays must be submitted by Feb. 24 and there will be monetary prizes for winners.
Church said encouraging students to be interested in government has several benefits.
“Someday they are going to be the homeowners, and the citizens, and the business owners and volunteers of the future,” Church said. “So, if we can get them involved now with their government, I think it is just going to benefit all of us in the future.”
