I read your editorial (May 18) with great interest regarding Mt. Abram High School students who attended the Kingfield selectmen’s town meeting. However, such an educational lesson in civic responsibility is not new to me.

More than 55 years ago, the students at Van Buren Boys’ High School would attend the annual Van Buren town meeting. Active participation at the meeting was limited because 21 was the required legal voting age. We would write reports and have classroom discussion on the various issues concerning the town. Later in the spring, students would campaign in school for each available town position. Those who won their campaigns were sworn into office for Student Government Day. The high school would literally take over the operation of the town for that day. One year, my brother was elected police chief, and I was elected fire inspector. Another year, I served as health officer.

I commend the teacher at Mt. Abram High School for providing a group of students with such a valuable experience in early civic responsibility, but I remember that, more than 55 years ago, a lot more was happening at my high school in the little town of Van Buren in the St. John River Valley.

I congratulate and commend the students at Mt. Abram High School for their firsthand involvement in civic responsibility. It should be mandatory in every high school in Maine.

Richard Doucette, Auburn