To the editor:

I read the Feb. 16 article “civics involvement” by David Broder, and I couldn’t agree more with his assessment. I have a master’s degree in social studies from Kansas University, and I have seen firsthand the indifference of students. However, at least here in Kansas, there are two larger problems that may be the triggers for this disinterest.

1. There is an obvious lack of interest on the part of parents to support social studies teachers. During the time I student-taught, it was my job to do parent/teacher conferences. The majority of parents I met were not interested in seeing their children getting anything out of the class except to pass it.

2. I have found, at least in Kansas, that the social studies are considered a second-tier discipline. What that means is that the districts and the schools do not consider it as important as math, reading and science.

Worse yet, it is an unwritten understanding in Kansas that teachers won’t get jobs teaching social studies unless, (get this) they are willing or have some background in some sport.

I applied in 17 districts in the area in a two-year period. To a person, each interviewer asked, “social studies — so what do you coach?”

Until the school districts in this country take social studies more seriously and be less concerned about winning football games, our teaching of the discipline will never really get any better, and participation will not increase.

Thom Alexander,

Lawrence