Even if you are a longtime resident of Washington, you may not be aware of Temperance and Good Citizenship Day. It is an odd title and perhaps the first thing that one may ask, “Is everyone to become a teetotaler that day? Is that what leads to the second part?”
In fact, in the early days, temperance and women’s right to vote went hand in hand. However, Temperance and Good Citizenship Day has a slightly different connotation. Temperance in this case implies peaceful civic engagement. The headline on the secretary of state’s webpage on this event states that it “is meant to promote civics education and peaceful citizen engagement.”
The law first was passed in 1923 and stated that on Jan. 16 of each year — or the preceding Friday if the 16th falls on a nonschool day — will be the observance of Temperance and Good Citizenship. It was mandated then, but has evolved over the years.
Now, several things are expected to happen on that day.
High school teachers are to conduct voter registration in each history or social studies class attended by seniors, giving students enough time to fill out the forms in class.
