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Back Home What is JSA? Who started JSA? What is the ORV? Who started JSA? What is a chapter? How is a chapter run? Is JSA a partisan club? What is a regional event? What trips does JSA take? What is a Mini-Con? What is a governor's job? Who is on the governor's cabinet? What is "JSA Summer School?" Who speaks at a Summer School? What is a Symposium? What if I'm not from Ohio? What is the Muckraker? What if I have other questions? |
JSA is a very involved club. In fact, it is the largest run student club in America! That can make it very overwhelming for somebody who has only heard a little bit about the amazing activities and opportunities that JSA offers for high school students. The purpose of this page is to offer help to those who are uncertain if JSA is for them, or if you simply want to find out what certain JSA terms mean. For the JSA Dictionary, click here. To order a JSA booklet for your chapter, or to get some chapter start-up materials, click here. What is JSA? JSA stands for The Junior State of America. It is an after-school club set up for high schoolers across the country to educate them about politics and how to get involved in their community. JSA's goals are to enforce their fundamental principles by offering high-level debates and political discussions. JSA is not just about debates, though. The club also offers leadership training, activism, journalism, and event planning opportunities for the JSA experience. On high school campuses across the country, there are students concerned about what is happening around them- students who are interested in politics and government, foreign affairs, the law, the media, and education. The Junior State of America is designed for these students. Who Started JSA? JSA was created in 1934 by Professor Ernest Rogers. The location was the Montezuma School for Boys in Los Gatos, California. The club was called "The Junior Statesmen of America," and Prof Rogers (Prof pronounced "Proff") created JSA in order to educate high school students about democratic education and civic participation. After beginning at Montezuma, JSA quickly spread throughout California, and over time throughout the nation. JSA quickly became the largest student-run organization in the country. Since Prof Rogers, JSA has continued to flourish. It is now home to eight states and regions throughout the country. From Texas to Ohio to California to New York, JSA keeps students involved and educated about the nation they live in and prepares them for active involvement when they graduate. Each year, a nationwide "pilgrimage" is taken to the Montezuma School where JSA began by 60 students throughout the nation. Although the school has been closed since 1955 and Prof Rogers has been gone for many years, JSA continues to admire the legacy left behind and celebrate the truly unique vision that Prof had for the children of the future. JSA is currently larger than ever, with thousands of students participating in the club at various levels of involvement, including chapter, state, and nationwide. Since its beginnings in 1934, over 300,000 students have been involved in JSA. |
