SCHOOLKIDS SHOULD HEAR FROM THEIR GOVERNOR

A governor's visit to a school is more than high honor; it's a lesson.

A nondescript square on a dry organization chart in a textbook suddenly
comes alive with the appearance of the state's highest elected officer; a
famous and important individual.

If that governor can talk in understandable terms about his job, how he
works with his cabinet, and how he works with - or against - the
legislative and judicial branches, he can give students a real feel for
government and politics; subjects which too often put youngsters to sleep.

In fitness-fan Gary Johnson, we have a governor kids can ask about running
state government - or running the Ironman. In fact, it was at a marathon
run that a DeVargas Middle School teacher asked him if he would come to her
school.

Good call; Johnson has youngsters of his own, so he knows how to
communicate with students, and he's never been one for highfalutin language.

He'd be the ideal guest at anyone's school - but Johnson has raised some
parental ire by raising the issue of legalizing drugs. Thus his visit to
DeVargas, scheduled for Monday, has drawn protests from several parents.

Seventh- and eighth-graders, say those parents, are too young and
impressionable to be exposed to Johnson's message.

Maybe their kids are too innocent for such things, but most of today's
middle-schoolers are only too "hip" to the hard world; sad to say, many a
12- and 13-year-old has done - or is doing - drugs.

Principal Debra Carden responded admirably by allowing parents to pull
their students out during the Johnson hour. Since then, school headquarters
has announced that student questions have been winnowed down to half a
dozen mostly innocuous ones - including one on aliens from outer space. No
dope questions.

The governor himself isn't being censored, however - and in his
drug-legalization advocacy there are object lessons in free speech as well
as bolts-and-nuts government.

Johnson would be the first to note that, despite his high rank and popular
election to two terms, his dope stance is going scorned, by Democrats and
by his fellow Republicans, in the state Legislature. Therein lies an
excellent opportunity for him to explain why, in the American system, the
chief executive doesn't necessarily get his way.

Should protesting parents decide after all to let their children go to the
governor's assembly, those kids could learn a little about the importance
of voting.

Our schools, clearly, should hear from our governor.