It would seem that a lot of readers are upset with our present caucus and education systems.

It could be argued that a connection exists between the two systems. Both require efforts of the participant in significant and meaningful ways.

I was a first-time caucus participant, and while in years past I could think of many other ways to spend my time and energy, this year my participation seemed more urgent.

The experience was uplifting and rejuvenating. My wife and I are now both delegates to the county caucuses.

As a teacher, I also recognize that to become educated a student must spend a great deal of time and effort and money in pursuit of an education. It can only be done if the student values being an educated person.

As a wrestling coach at Apple Valley, I could get kids to climb rope until their hands blistered and bled, but as their biology teacher I couldn't get them to read a three-page assignment in the text. Many of their parents would drive to Iowa or Wisconsin to watch them wrestle, but never show up at parent conferences.

Both the wrestlers and their parents valued wrestling and devoted a great deal of time and effort and money in pursuit of success in wrestling.

It seems every kid in school has an iPod and a cell phone. They spend hours with both, but when I check homework assignments not many have them done. Other students go home to chaos and confusion. For them, it takes all the effort they can muster just to get to school.

We are raising a generation of kids that are disenfranchised from our society. Some have everything they could ever want, and have earned none of it and as a result value none of it. Other kids have nothing.

As parents and educators, we must value those things that have allowed us to be successful. Democracy doesn't come without a commitment of effort, time and money, and neither does an education.

What are we teaching these kids?

Mark Gunderson is a Wayzata resident and a biology teacher at Apple Valley High School, where he also coached wrestling for 21 years.