Patriotism and the classroom

A letter writer from Jackson wants Gov. Corzine to veto a bill that would no longer require schools to teach about Veterans Day, Memorial Day and four other holidays. She asks whether it's too much to expect schools to devote maybe one hour a year on the significance of each of these holidays. She makes a good point. But a better question is why it has to be mandated in the first place.

There's no reason why schools don't include instruction about our national holidays. If they're important enough to close government offices and schools, then they're important enough to be included in the school curriculum in advance of the holiday. If nothing else, the teaching should remind students that holidays are not just for the mall or the beach. The state doesn't need a law to tell schools to do the right thing. Failing to do it is an abdication of educators' responsibility.