We're all for civics in our schools but this version is outrageous. Next week, schools in the two big districts in the Maryland suburbs of D.C., Montgomery and Prince George's counties, will close two hours early so their students and teachers can attend a rally in the state capital to protest planned cuts in the state education budget. And they'll provide free bus service to the rally. And they'll give students credit toward community service requirements for attending. Irony of ironies, the event was originally scheduled for last week, but was cancelled because of a snowstorm that shut down schools across the region. (In fact, between snow days and last fall's hurricane, many Maryland students have missed almost 10 days of instructional time already this year.) So, in an era when schools complain loud and long that they don't have enough time and money to do their jobs, they will spend some of that time and money turning students into little activists who toe the party line. (We'd be interested to see the reaction if a student demanded time off and credit for attending a rally in favor of the cuts.) If anything demonstrates the bankruptcy of most mandatory service requirements, it's foolishness like this.
"Buses will take students to rally," by Matthew Cella, Washington Times, January 31, 2004
"Schools to give students credit for attending Thornton rally," by Sean R. Sedam, Montgomery County Gazette, February 4, 2004