Wow...isn't this a bit hostile? I asked a pretty common question...why do people think walking to (or from) school is so unsafe? Especially people, like yourself (as you stated in another post), who live in safe neighborhoods? I would not assume that every place in the United States is safe, nor did I say that. I simply said that millions of kids do it safely. Only we, as parents, know what kind of place we live in.
Do freak things happen? Yes. But I hope not to let that consume me. I will say that I would be more likely to let them walk home...so that I am there waiting for them. But to imply that I need the school to make that decision for me because I don't have the skills to do it myself is a little extreme. I hope to make my kids independent, and walking four blocks home from school is a step that they will take when the time is right.
safe. what does that mean? i walk outside my house and there no drug dealers, gun fire etc. sure its safe. im realistic in the fact that im very lucky in the fact that i dont ahve to fear for my life. nor does my child. there are many places in the country where thats not true. i know because i grew up there. i grew up in an area that i couldnt walk to school in fear of gangs.
ok...but thats not what im talking about. there are predators out there waiting for your child, my child anyones child. did you happen to watch oprah the other day, maybe it was yesterday. if you have a chance watch it on line. this isnt a small problem and its happening in my neighborhood and your neighborhood. it happens everyday. sure the statistics say its happens most often whith someone you know, but they also say that internet porn is increasing, yes increasing the likelyhood that men will go outside the computer to satisfy their sickness. infact there are how to videos on the internet, how to find these young kids, how to get away with it over and over again. there are online support groups for these men. no not support groups to convince them not to do it, but support groups of their peers convincing them that this is normal and that society doesnt get, but that someday we will.
so yes millions of kids get to school safely, but millions dont. its a gamble which side your child will fall on. is it a gamble your willing to take with your 8yo? its not one im willing to take.
i will say that my husbands job unfortunately, or maybe fortunately who knows, puts me into this world. i get to see the piles and piles of cases they deal with. its never ending. and you know what the worst part is? there are just too mnay that they have to choose, thats right choose which ones they think are more dangerous. its laughable, but its life.
of course whenever anyone brings these topics up its always, "well thats extreme". i wish it was. its not. millions of children being violated is not a freak thing. oh how i wish it were.
like you say you cant let it consume you. thats very important. my kids, well my older 2, have the run of the neighborhood. i know these people and theyhahve rules about entering peoples homes. my daughter gets up in the morning and leaves and calls me when she finds a friend thats home to tell me where shell be that day. am i over protective? no. but something like walking to school you dont know the dangers. not only that but the dangers change. predators have cars, doesnt matter where you live. we need to start being realistic as a scociety and stop thinking "that doesnt happen here" because it does, everyday.
of course i agree with making children independant. but really, should an 8yo be that indepandant that they need to walk 4 blocks to school? at that age they need to be bused. we need to put funding into our schools to allow for this. im lucky i live in an area where everyone is bused, doesnt matter if you live next door, the bus picks you up.even at that the bus will not pick you up or drop you off unless there is someone there putting you on and taking you off. so it isnt just walking to school, my daughter isnt even allowed to get off the bus and walk home alone.and if you want to pick your child up from school, you need a pick up tag. every person everytime. but i for one think this is great! i would love to see this happen across the country through 4rth grade. is it going to happen, no. and unfortunately not all parents are home to get their kids to school, but at that age kids just shouldnt be left to their own defense.
Why isn't it safe? Millions of children walk home from school every day. I think it's so sad that that's the perception of people all over America. While I wouldn't let me Kindergartner walk home by himself...I would hope that I would feel comfortable letting a 3rd grader do it. I'm not sure why parents aren't given the authority to make that decision instead of the school.
Because they are sitting in the bus loop till they get the all clear, the bus ride is about 10-15 minutes. Not horrible, but extremely unnecessary when I can walk them to school in about 3 minutes.
