Family defies no-bike policy at Maple Avenue Middle School

[HoosierGiant]

Our local school corporation specifically prohibits walking to school and cycling to school -- all children must arrive via automobile or big yellow bus. Each of the three elementary schools is in a small town, as is the intermediate school; only the high school is in an outlying area. Crazy!

[Grog]

This is so depressing, I could cry.

There needs to be more than a couple of parents protesting! This is A-B-S-U-R-D.

[Trek420]

Is there a local bike advocacy group? Under safe routes to school these routes benefit us all. Maybe you can get them involved, maybe start bike bus so kids and parents feel more confident.

[AnnieBikes]

With all the obesity problems in children these days, you would think that they would be ENCOURAGING kids to ride and/or walk to school. What is the problem with walking? Oh my gosh, what is this country coming to?

[witeowl]

I'd really like to hear the school's/district's rationale. I didn't find it in the article. Can someone enlighten me? I'm not defending them, certainly, but I feel like I'm missing something here.

[uforgot]

I can maybe give you the flip side. As a teacher, I am responsible for your child when they leave school. Ever see a group of elementary kids after school? I teach elementary dance in the summer, and I have to make sure that each one leaves with a parent, or the proper person, and that each one gets on the right bus, and yes, that the walkers arrive at their house. I'm responsible for them. If the parents are late picking them up, then I'm an after school babysitter, because I have to take care of them until their parents arrive. This was sometimes a half hour after school was dismissed. And I can also imagine a bunch on bikes with their friends, riding recklessly, or a predator waiting to snatch them, especially if they are walking. If something happens to the kids, the schools are liable. If the parents are picking them up, that's one thing, but if they are on their own after school?

I remember that one day, a grandmother picked up her grandsons (6th graders) while they were walking from school this summer. They live a couple of blocks away and they never arrived at their house. I walked their path, and the school finally reported them missing to the police. They were found, safe and sound at their grandmother's, but it was a frightening half hour. I also had a 2nd grader who was responsible for her kdg sister. Also a block away, but I wouldn't let those girls take off until the buses were gone and I could actually watch them go down the street hand in hand. The schools don't have the resources to hire extra people to help with dismissal. I understand that these kids in the article were with their parents, but so many are not. I can certainly see why they would insist they ride a bus or be picked up in a vehicle.

It's too bad that we live in such a world, but we can't just let the elementary and middle schoolers just take off where ever they want to go, and maybe not even walk or ride if they want, but the fact is, it's just too dangerous and that's a sad state of affairs, isn't it?

I think that's why those rules are in effect, and maybe they can adjust them. If they are released to a parent, guardian or someone responsible, then let them ride/walk, but if they are on their own? It's tough, even here, where we know everyone and their business.

Yeah, just one more thing I have to worry about with your child, but I care about them and I don't want anything happening to them.

[Tuckervill]

I live near four mid to elementary schools (within half a mile) and there are hundreds of kids of all ages riding bikes and walking home from school every morning and night, even though the bus picks up on my street.

I think it's wonderful.

Who was it that came up with this idea that the *school* was in charge of the kids after they leave the school? Why aren't the parents? It's illogical to me. The kids on the bus--those are yours until you drop them off. The walkers and bike riders? They're mine.

I live in a town of 20,000 and all the schools are along one main drag (except the high school). The whole street is a school zone, so we're all watching out for them. If that kid's parent doesn't see him goofing off, his next door neighbor or the secretary at church probably did!

Karen

[witeowl]

As a teacher, I am responsible for your child when they leave school.

As a middle school teacher, I sure as heck hope I'm not responsible for any of those kids when they leave school! Once they're off campus, they're considered to be on their own, and there's nothing we can do to change that. I'm not sure there's anything we should do to change that. Sure, we do what we can to make sure that nothing goes on in our nearby vicinity, particularly at the local businesses, but our zone extends well beyond walking distance into the rural areas around our school.

That said, thanks for the possible reasoning. I completely disagree, but at least it helps to have a rationalization on the flip side.