The value of life

One suicide and three attempted ones that left two seriously injured, all by middle school students in Shanghai last week, cast a gloom over an otherwise happy beginning of a new semester there.

The tragedies took place even as the Ministry of Education and China Central Television jointly organized the first lesson on TV about personal safety for students last Monday, the first day of the new semester.

Such tragedies suggest that this first lesson is more than necessary. Not only should kids be taught how to protect themselves in times of emergency, they should also be made aware of the value of life.