EDITORIALS

What’s important

Even some athletic directors know

AH, THE PLACE we all know as Mountain Home. Even the name sounds a comfort. Any stretch of highway in the vicinity can make your Top 10 list of Most Beautiful Spots. One wonder of the place is why more people don’t just stop on the side of the road at one of the curves and say, “I’m here.” Preferably under an apple tree. Then start negotiating with the landowners about rent.

But it is so hard to get there.

Go through Batesville? Maybe. If you’re in, or trying to get to, the eastern part of the state. If not, maybe you’ll think about driving through Russellville, or . . . well, some of these mountain roads can be dicey here and there. Long, too. And scary at night.

Folks running the schools in Mountain Home say their kids need a break from all the traveling they have to do during the various sports seasons. Mountain Home is in something called the 7A/6A East Conference, competing against teams/places/schools from Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Cabot. But that conference also includes schools from West Memphis and Marion.

West Memphis and Marion? Our sports conferences here in Arkansas can be all over the state map.

Imagine having a basketball game in West Memphis on a school night-one starting at 6 or 7 in the evening. Or think of having to get the football team to a game in Marion. Remember, some teams for the younger players have games on Thursdays, not Fridays. And Thursday is most definitely a school night. Ask any mom.

Here’s Mountain Home’s athletic director, Janet Wood: “They get in at [2 a.m.] and they’re expected to be at school at 7:52” the next morning. “Our concern is, are they mentally ready to face the day with very little sleep and very little recovery time?”

We wouldn’t be. Ms. Wood and others testified before state legislative committees last week. Some folks in Mountain Home and in the Ledge want a study to determine if travel time for young athletes should be limited. To us, that’s a rhetorical question.

“It’s not just the time on the bus,” said Mountain Home’s superintendent, Lonnie Myers. “It’s the time they get home, it’s the loss of rest and preparation for the academic classes the next day.”

There are alternatives to leaving Marion at 10 on a school night. Some games could be scheduled for Saturdays. Or teams could meet halfway on some neutral field or court. Smart folks could figure out a better way. Or certainly should.

“It has nothing to do with competition,” Ms. Wood said. “We’re just trying to keep our kids in class.”

Imagine that. From an athletic director for a public school district in Arkansas. It gives one hope. Bravo for Janet Wood!

Bravo for all who have taken notice of this problem and plan to do something about it. If it takes an act of Congress to fix this-or just an act of the state legislature-so be it. That’s why we pay lawmakers.

Editorial, Pages 10 on 07/29/2013

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