The idea for what is now known as Junior State was conceived by Professor E.A. Rogers, headmaster of Montezuma Mountain School for Boys in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains in the early 1930s. Professor Rogers maintained that a primary need of a democracy was to train youth in essentials of good government.
In 1934, Professor Rogers put a question before his students that inspired the suggestion of a junior government – a project to create statesmen and citizens of the future. Students set goals for their junior government. Non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-secret and non-profit, the organization would rise above the evils of propaganda and dirty politics. Students learned about democracy and practiced it.
The project spread to other California high schools. The group thrived through its annual “summer school,” where young men and women were taught political science and public speaking. JSA – Junior Statesmen of America as it was then known – entered the ’70s invigorated by a supporting foundation which assisted students in organization of their government.
In the last 30 years, the group spread across the nation with chapters in 35 states. Junior State has fought for student rights, including the need for a lowered voting age (approved by US Congress in 1971) and student representation on school boards. It is the largest student-run organization in the U.S.
Presently, there are ten State Governors who oversee more than 400 high school chapters with over 13,000 student delegates. Five times over the past twenty years a Servite student has served as one of the ten elected Governors who oversee this national organization. These students include: Joe Sanberg ’97, Charlie Adams ’89, Robin Kong ’00, Jessie Shaw ’03, and Patrick Aimone ’18.
Servite is regularly one of the largest and most active chapters in the U.S. and often maintains a chapter of 100+ members to support the motto:
“Democracy is not a spectator sport. Be the People!”
