Our View: DC trip will be educational

The Havre school board last week made a wise decision last week when it formally approved a program whereby government teacher John Ita will take a group of 18 to Washington to attend President Barack Obama's Jan. 21 public inauguration.

Because Jan. 20, the constitutionally mandated date for the inauguration, falls on a Sunday, the public ceremony will be on Monday, Jan. 21. A private swearing in will take place on Jan. 20.

The trip will be a once-in-a lifetime event for the students and adults who will be going with Ita to the swearing-in ceremonies.

It will be an educational program at its very best.

The program is entirely nonpartisan. Because of deadlines with the travel agency, people had to sign up prior to Election Day, before anyone knew who would win the election.

The people will see first hand the most important ceremony in American democracy. People of both parties will unite to take part in this ceremony as Obama and Vice President Joe Biden take their oaths of office. Four years ago, Ita said, it was heartwarming to see elderly African-Americans stand outside in the cold weather to see the first African-American president inauguration.

This year's event won't be quite as dramatic, but equally historic.

Being at the scene will be far more valuable to students than reading about it in class or watching it on TV.

School board member Curtis Smeby said it would be great if everyone in the district could attend. Indeed.

But since that's not possible, it's great Ita could take some people to the event who can enjoy being part of history. They can come back to Havre and tell the story of t