Public school education should be more than learning the three Rs – reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic. When and where possible, students should be exposed to things that will have significance in years to come.

Thanks to a grant from the Suffolk Education Foundation (SEF), numerous Booker. T. Washington Elementary School youngsters recently visited the circuit court and gained a basic understanding of how the judicial system works.

But seeing the courtroom and hearing the lectures weren’t enough; mock trials were staged to give the students a better idea of what happens when a person is brought for judgment.

It was encouraging to read in Barbara L. Allen’s story that they were quite enthusiastic about the experience. Perhaps this visit also inspires some of them to consider future careers in law enforcement and the court system. You’re never too young to think about the future, especially when it comes to earning one’s daily bread.