JUST WHAT IS CENTRAL TO HIGH SCHOOL? | Crime

Besides the senseless taking of a young life, what struck me about the September 11th murder of a Central High School student was the time of day that it occurred, between 6:30 and 7 in the morning.

Teenage scholars now have to rise in the wee hours to meet institutional start times at the crack of dawn - or earlier, depending on the season. Academic schedules have been adjusted to accomodate after school practices for those that are on sports teams. At the same time, there is less of a gym requirement for ALL students enrolled in this age of a childhood obesity epidemic, although those living outside the ever increasing busing perimeter get to walk, in this instance, over two miles one way. This makes about as much sense as rousing adolescents out of bed against their circadian rhythms and expecting them to absorb what is being taught in the classroom while they are half asleep.

The 18 year old 11th grader just killed in Capitol Heights was on the track team, yet apparently unable to outrun his assailant, if he even caught a glimpse in the dawn's "light." Perhaps this sad occasion would be a good point to evaluate just what is central to high school, and public education in general, and ponder how priorities have gotten so out of whack, no pun intended.