School Graduation

The Carroll Board of Education has ranked an initiative to ease requirements to become a teacher as a "low priority," saying there were too many uncertainties in a state proposal.The Maryland Board of Education plan, part of a package of 15 proposals to improve state schools, is one of two the Carroll board has decided to rank as a "low priority" when it meets with the county's General Assembly delegation next month to develop a legislative package.The other proposal, extending the school calendar from 180 to 200 days, was given a low ranking after a board discussion in November.

In 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote that ''all men are created equal.'' Ten years later he and many of the co-framers of theConstitution continued to participate in the enslavement of Africans in America. . . . Two nations.In 1983 the National Commission on Excellence in Education in its report, ''A Nation at Risk,'' declared that ''Our goal must be to develop the talents of all to their fullest. Attaining that goal requires that we expect and assist all students to work to the limits of their capabilities.

High school graduation came about 17 years late for Lloyd and Tammy Poates of Union Bridge, but not too late for the couple to celebrate their joint success. Nor for their two children to share in their pride. They were among some 100 adults who received diplomas from Carroll County's Alternative Program in graduation ceremonies held last week at Westminster High School.Some completed their secondary education through the General Equivalency Diploma program, studying traditional academic courses and taking a comprehensive eight-hour final exam.

Good for the State Board of Education. That panel, which in the past has meekly knuckled under to pressure from school boards, local school superintendents and from the stateteachers' union, this week made Maryland the first state in the nation to require community service for high school graduation.The prospects are quite intriguing. Beginning with the freshman class of 1993-94, students in Maryland will be required to complete 75 hours of work in their communities. They could be tutoring other students, working in nursing homes, homeless shelters or senior centers, spending time with environmental groups.

"GATHER YE ROSEBUDS while ye may," the English lyric poet Robert Herrick exhorted young people more than three centuries ago. His urgent words may find special meaning for seniors at South Carroll High School, where the yearbook will appear two weeks after classes end. New graduates bemoan the fact they will not be able to collect cherished yearbook autographs from classmates before departing.At high school graduation, youthful expectations are high and the impulse is to squeeze as much as possible into a few short final weeks.

Rick Long Khem will be allowed to share in the graduation ceremoniesthat will honor approximately 1,900 seniors from Howard County's eight high schools next week.School officials initially barred Khem from graduation because he will not receive a diploma. But they but agreed last week to allow the 21-year-old Cambodian student to take part in the ceremony and receive a Maryland High School Certificate, Khem's adopted mother, Ellen Long, said.The certificate is given to special education students at the endof their school careers.

Principals, business leaders and education activists from across Maryland urged the state school board yesterday not to abandon plans for high school graduation exams, and their lobbying appeared to succeed. State school board President Edward Andrews -- who a month ago threatened to propose that the board kill the tests in a critical vote scheduled for this morning -- said yesterday that the testimony persuaded him to keep pushing ahead with the core of the state's plan for a rigorous set of tests.

Mayor Martin O'Malley used his State of the City address to highlight what he says are his administration's biggest accomplishments. Here is the context for some of his statements. on crime "Ten years ago, 20,000 of our neighbors fell victim to violent crime. By 2005, the number of our neighbors falling victim to violent crime has been driven down to 11,000. ... The nation's most stubborn homicide rate claimed the lives of 331 of our neighbors 10 years ago. Last year, together, we had reduced that tragic toll by 62 lives."

Last week I went shopping in our small rural hometown, where my family has attended the same public schools since 1896. Without exception, all six generations of us - whether farmers, housewives, day laborers, businesspeople, writers, lawyers or educators - were given a good, competitive K-12 education. But after a haircut, I noticed that the 20-something cashier could not count out change. The next day, at the electronics outlet store, another young clerk could not read - much less explain - the basic English of the buyer's warranty.