Tuesday’s Starkville Board of Aldermen meeting was routine in most respects, mostly spent addressing usual business with the board taking little action beyond consent agenda items.

The meeting was worth noting in one respect, however: It proved to be a pretty good lesson in civics, something that isn’t taught much in today’s schools.

That showed.

Early in each board meeting, the board sets aside a period of time for public comment, allowing residents up to three minutes to voice their concerns, opinion, suggestions or complaints. This period not only allows citizens to be heard, but benefits the mayor and council by allowing them to hear directly from their constituents. For longer presentations, citizens can request a slot on the agenda for a planned public appearance.

On Tuesday, a group of Mississippi State students who identified themselves as Students for a Sustainable Campus, took advantage of the latter to plead their case for changes in city policy that would support their mission.

In doing so, the civics lesson started on a positive note. We are always encouraged when young people show an interest in government, whether it be on the national, state or local level. In Starkville, MSU students have a profound effect on the city’s cultural and economic landscape. Collectively, they represent a stakeholder group the city can ill-afford to ignore or neglect.

The first rule of citizen involvement in government is to show up and be heard. The students checked that box. We encourage other young people to engage their government in that way.

What followed, however, turned out to be more of a teachable moment than an effective presentation.

The students wanted three things: A return of curbside recycling, an incentive program for businesses that exercise environmentally sound practices and tougher code regulations to battle blight.

Nothing unreasonable there. But it was the tone of their comments that was all wrong. It came across as combative and condescending. The group’s spokesperson couched their positions as “demands,” which almost always creates tension, not understanding.

The spokesman noted that discussion on curbside recycling was actually on the BOA’s agenda — an item slated for later in the meeting — and said her group would be interested in hearing that discussion.

Not too interested, it appeared. The group left the meeting after its presentation without hearing the board’s discussions on curbside recycling, suggesting the group was far more interested in being heard than listening.

In the absence of a civics course, the students may well have benefited from the lesson Starkville resident Alvin Turner provided in the same meeting. Mr. Turner has faithfully attended these board meetings as long as anyone can remember and almost always participates in the public comment period. At times, he makes forceful comments and sharp criticisms, but unfailingly addresses the board in a respectful manner. Then he takes his seat and remains there until the end, intently listening to the discussions that follow, thus demonstrating a point made 86 years ago by Dale Carnegie is his book “How To Win Friends and Influence People,” which has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide —if you want to be heard, listen.

We genuinely hope these students and others will continue to engage in local government, to show up, be heard and also to be strategic and listen carefully.

They might do well to read Carnegie’s book first for some insights in how to make their points effectively.

Often, it’s not what you say but how you say it that matters most.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.