The letter from Pete Weale (The News, June 12) regarding the lack of knowledge by our students of how our government works is telling. For anyone with some responsibility in our schools to tell him that our students are “too busy” to be concerned with such matters as community service and that it was not a topic for discussion at a board meeting is too much. There was a time when all high school curriculums included a mandatory course in American history, with very useful time included on the topic of civics, which includes how local governments function and how citizens can contribute to the community without running for office. Is that not so any more?
It certainly should not be a mystery. The simple fundamentals of “civics” are important, and anyone on the school district staff should know that without question. As he points out, the fundamental difference between the way the West Windsor and Plainsboro governments work is important to know about — even for students. It really wouldn’t take much time to learn.
Dick Snedeker
West Windsor
