By: Jacqueline Gruber
Long Beach Model Congress delegates recently competed at East Meadow. This first debate was an encouraging experience for all delegates.
Model Congress is a club composed of students from Long Beach High School that debate and expresses their opinions and political views.
Senior Rebeka Smith, the delegate chair on the executive board of the club, said, “What I love most about the club is that it is voluntary to speak. No one is forced to do anything they do not want to. When you speak you have to freedom to express yourself and not be judged.”
Delegates go to foreign congresses each month to compete in different committees, cheers, and preliminaries such as House and Senate.
A committee is centered on a common theme or current issue. Committees include, but are not limited to:
Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll Education and Welfare
Visual Arts Philosophy
Space Science- Fiction Domestic Affairs
Foreign Affairs Technology
Supreme Court Gaming/Athletics
Health Human and Animal Rights
Teen Issues Time Warp
To win a congress, delegations are scored in diverse categories such as:
1.behavior/respect, commonly called decorum
2. clean up, after all meals
3. cheers and board cheers
4. debate
The most important part of a congress is the cheering. Although, people do receive awards such as shout outs, accommodation, honorable mention, and best speaker. It is not about the awards. It’s about having the courage to get up and speak in front of an audience.
Whether it is sponsoring a bill, primary opposition, general debate, or asking an inquiry, all model congress delegates are encouraged to speak their mind. We wish the Long Beach Model Congress a great year!!!
It is never too late to join! Come down to the upper auditorium on Thursdays for an afternoon full of fun and debate.
THE TIDE 