I want to commend you on your stance regarding the absence of civics education in our society (“Our View: Democracy’s survival depends on knowledge of civics,” March 3).

Having worked in local and regional government positions for most of my career, much of it in town meeting formats, I’ve observed the diminishing degree of participation by younger people and the growing absence of understanding of the functioning of government. It’s disappointing and, as you point out, a serious concern for the health of our republic. In a country where “We the People” is the foundational declaration, the people need to be aware of its founding principles, its history and its self-government processes.

I lament the disappearance of civics education from our schools. Personally, I would elevate what used to be an elective to a required semester of civics for high school sophomores and juniors as a key part of their learning how to understand, interpret, survive and participate in the political environment that determines so much of who we are, not just on a national scale but all the way down to the local level.

I taught a Junior Achievement course to middle-schoolers at one time and thoroughly enjoyed their enthusiasm for engaging in the competition of capitalism and small business. I would gladly volunteer my time to do the same around civics education.

Steve Daly

city manager

Waterville