Thoughts: Kids walking to school

times have changed

It's amazing how times have changed. I remember when I was in elementry school we had open campus for lunch. 4th graders leaving school to walk to the corner store and get lunch. In fact there were a few occasions when I was allowed to ride my dirt-bike to school!! I'm only 32 y/o:wheel:
 
I walked home, and sometimes to, 1st thru 3rd grades, about 1/2 mile. That was ummmm....almost 40 years ago ('69 to '71-ish)....I sure wouldn't let a kid do it nowadays.

When I was in 4th grade, I lived about 1/2 mile from school. One day I get called to the office, our Irish Setter had found her way to the school (for Sanford folks, it's now the arts center at the corner of Steel and Weatherspoon). They let me out of school to walk the dog home and tie her up...crossing a 4 lane in the process (Horner Blvd/US-421). This was about 1972...they sure as hell wouldn't let that happen today!
 
If it was such a big concern for their child to walk 1.5 miles then why not just give them a ride on their way out to work. It would take all of what? 10 mins? Plus they know their kid got there safe. Otherwise, let em walk. No wonder there are so many fat kids nowadays!
 
a bus for transportation should be offered. who the hell wants their kid to walk in the rain, cold or snow even if it was a 1/4 mile. if a kid wants to walk let em but they should be given an option. its not convenient for all parents to drop the kids off. if i dropped mine off he'd be on the schools front steps at 6am.
 
Part of the responsibility and job of being a parent. Part of the decision you made, when you decided to have kids. The government isn't supposed to be there to solve every problem you create (or procreate).

To put this in context....I got no kids. But my parents did personally get me to school every day from sixth grade until I got my license, and either picked me up or had a ride home for me arranged. 10-15 minute car ride, versus an hour plus spent on the bus each way. And yes, sometimes I was just about the first student on campus.
 
Blah.
Had one reply for this.
Then I read the article.
F those people. They suck anyway. I live in the "old neighborhood" across the street.
When they built their new neigborhood, they were supposed to put a stop light in if they put in more than X houses.
Or connected it to Dominion.
So they got "around that" by having a small neighborhood in the front.
Then building multiple new neighborhoods off the back, and having THOSE connect.
Then since it was "unsafe" they repainted the lines, so that now I have to hail mary to get out of my neighborhood.
A few of you have been to my house and know how crazy it is. Well, now thanks to the school and the new paintings for the neighborhood, I know how I am going to get rid of the jeep.
It's going to get rear ended up and through a graveyard cause of these idiots.

OH yea, this neighborhood is well lit, and has sidewalks and crosswalks every where in it.
Would be perfect for walking to school.

Of course SINCE they put that (*$#@(*$(**$@ neighborhood in, the school buses can't come in OUR neighborhood "because it's an unsafe turn onto Leesville"
So kids in our neighborhood have to STAND on the corner. And wait for the bus.
Even if they WANT to walk their kids, (when it's nice a few of the parents do) they are not supposed to.
Blah, stupid lawyers and politicians.


(Not that I'm bitter or anything you know? :D )
 
4x4fever said:
a bus for transportation should be offered. who the hell wants their kid to walk in the rain, cold or snow even if it was a 1/4 mile. if a kid wants to walk let em but they should be given an option. its not convenient for all parents to drop the kids off. if i dropped mine off he'd be on the schools front steps at 6am.
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Don't forget the school buses come through starting at 645 am.
Also since their neighborhood is on the same stupid part of Leesville is mine, they've made it unsafe to pull out. Oh yea, and if they DID get a bus down in that neighborhood, we better get one too.
Since kids from our side have to walk out to Leesville to catch the bus.

(Oh yea, I don't have kids. But I'm annoyed from walking to catch the bus, then jogging/riding my bike to school as a kid cause I could sleep later then if I dealt with the bus.)
 
d420fazer said:
It's amazing how times have changed. I remember when I was in elementry school we had open campus for lunch. 4th graders leaving school to walk to the corner store and get lunch. In fact there were a few occasions when I was allowed to ride my dirt-bike to school!! I'm only 32 y/o:wheel:
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I always tried to miss the bus so I could be late going, (catch ride with one of parents on there way to town) thats when pops told me to walk or ride my bike or motorcycle he wasnt going to take me. I too am 32 years old.
 
I just showed this to my wife, who used to live on Leesville Rd. She said its a really busy street and she probably wouldnt want our kids walking along it. That's a tough call, our oldest still has 2 years before he goes to school. That news clip put that into perspective; we live about 1.5mile away from our elementary school, but I think the bus picks up kids here.

As a kid, I had to walk to elementary school. I seem to recall the rule was over 1 mile, we lived like ~0.9 miles away. Still couldnt ride the bus even though it drove right by. I loved riding my bike back/forth anyways, that kicked ass :wheel:
 
4x4fever said:
a bus for transportation should be offered. who the hell wants their kid to walk in the rain, cold or snow even if it was a 1/4 mile. if a kid wants to walk let em but they should be given an option. its not convenient for all parents to drop the kids off. if i dropped mine off he'd be on the schools front steps at 6am.
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wahwahwah, they make rain coats and winter boots in kids sizes :flipoff2:
 
I would not let my kids walk on leesville rd to that new school..

I drive on that road all the time and people just can not drive.. plus there is another private catholic school right down the road which makes the traffic even worse..

and Yes I walked to school until the 7th grade, then school was a 20 min drive so walking was out of the question..
 
BRUISER said:
I would not let my kids walk on leesville rd to that new school..
I drive on that road all the time and people just can not drive.. plus there is another private catholic school right down the road which makes the traffic even worse..
and Yes I walked to school until the 7th grade, then school was a 20 min drive so walking was out of the question..
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Ermm
They DID put a BIG SIDEWALK 10' from the road, (Hence why my neighborhood got more hosed, cause it shifted the road, so we can't see past a graveyard to pull out)
It is also like 200' on Leesville.

http://tinyurl.com/6hrqcm

Most of the walk is through the 6 different neighborhoods all with sidewalks.
And like I said, buses should not be able to make that turn, since they said it was the hill on Leesville that makes it unsafe.
(Granted the bus stops right there, and kids have to wait at that intersection so don't get me started):shaking:
 
I dont think its such a bad idea. once i got off the bus, i was walking or riding my bike all over town to my friends house anyways. at times crossing I-40 (this part i am not recommending do).

I know that some of the cross town (read non-white) kids had to walk a few miles to the CITY bus stop before they could even walk to the mile or so to the SCHOOL bus stop.
 
hscrugby said:
Ermm
They DID put a BIG SIDEWALK 10' from the road, (Hence why my neighborhood got more hosed, cause it shifted the road, so we can't see past a graveyard to pull out)
It is also like 200' on Leesville.
http://tinyurl.com/6hrqcm
Most of the walk is through the 6 different neighborhoods all with sidewalks.
And like I said, buses should not be able to make that turn, since they said it was the hill on Leesville that makes it unsafe.
(Granted the bus stops right there, and kids have to wait at that intersection so don't get me started):shaking:
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I would be more concerned about kids crossing the street..
 
4x4fever said:
a bus for transportation should be offered. who the hell wants their kid to walk in the rain, cold or snow even if it was a 1/4 mile. if a kid wants to walk let em but they should be given an option. its not convenient for all parents to drop the kids off. if i dropped mine off he'd be on the schools front steps at 6am.
Click to expand...

Hate to tell you bud - this is just part of what comes with having kids. Can't expect the gov't to provide everything for you. If it's inconvenient for your job, well, you end up getting a new job or finding a solution. Don't liek it - well, should have had kids.

The problem is, it comes down to money. Sure, I'd love every kid to be picked up, right at their own house. But it isn't practical.
Remember, schools get their money from taxes; local, county, and state. That includes buses. They only get as much $$ as people are willing to pay in taxes, and have to operate on a fixed budget.
The rise of gas prices has really hurt the state school system... the cost of bussing was budgeted years ago, when diesel was only $2.30 a gallon. Now that it's doubled, so has the expense, but not the income... so they've had to really cut back on teh amount that busses can be run. I know in Forsyth Co., halfway through last year they eliminated virtually all school field trips, nad almsot had to go to a 4-day school week just to keep afloat. Nearly everywhere, the non-bussing distance has been increased to cut back on fuel use.

don't like it? Well then, you pony up cash for the schools to cover the expense. The money has to come from somewhere!
 
Do we even want to get into the lobbyists working for the bus manufacturers that are forcing upgrades that are not necessary. Example...seatbelts in buses...from what I have read, looking at the statistics, there is no difference in death and injury rates between school buses with and without seat belts. Buses, by design, are inherently safe, first by their sheer size and weight, and reinforcements in critical areas (i.e. the corrugated reinforcing panels at floor level, seat level, and just below the windows). But...if the lobbyist push for a federal requirement for seatbelts, and stipulate they can't be retrofitted, who profits....the bus manufacturers, right? Same with the push to require a/c in buses... A bus should have a life of what 10 years in route service....but legislation is pushed thru to force replacements in 5??
 
RatLabGuy said:
Hate to tell you bud - this is just part of what comes with having kids. Can't expect the gov't to provide everything for you. If it's inconvenient for your job, well, you end up getting a new job or finding a solution. Don't liek it - well, should have had kids.
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i dont expect the gov't to provide me with anything. i dont like it. i guess ive got two kids coming up for adoption? :flipoff2:


i dont live there so its not really my problem just giving my .02 cents . its not that way where i live
 
BRUISER said:
I would be more concerned about kids crossing the street..
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The people they say to walk won't have to cross any street.
Also I talked to some others, if they want to walk to the bus stop, they can, (just like our neighborhood) there are several over there in Dominion etc.
BUT they want the bus to stop RIGHT at their house, can't be bothered to go up to either bus stop or to the school.

Bleh.
 
4x4fever said:
a bus for transportation should be offered. who the hell wants their kid to walk in the rain, cold or snow even if it was a 1/4 mile. if a kid wants to walk let em but they should be given an option. its not convenient for all parents to drop the kids off. if i dropped mine off he'd be on the schools front steps at 6am.
Click to expand...
When I was in school I had to walk down my 1/2 mile st. in the rain, cold and if there is any thought of snow we cancel school, even if it is 70* outside
 
damn, I had to walk to and from school when i was in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. I walked about 1.5 miles down a busy 4 lane road. There was a sidewalk, so that wask OK. Let em walk, I had to. Maybe it'll whip some of em into shape!!!
 
I walked to school 1 mile up hill both ways when I was in Kindergarden. I only got in one rock fight and my buddie lost that one.

My wife will be driving my son to school. no bus and no walking.
 
I remember walking to school in Ohio in the Winter and it had snowed about 6" and was in the single digits. I got to school and it was closed so then I had to walk home. I didn't care cause I was in Junior high and not in school that day. My daughter would walk if I would let her and it is about 2.5 miles to the school. I make her ride the bus though.
 
4th and 5th grade I went to Jones elementary school in Asheville, yet lived at the top of Summit mt (above beaucatcher mt.) quite a few miles away. One or two pedals out of the driveway was all it took to make it almost to school of the mountain. I then road my bike downtown to my Dads office and he thew it in the trunk and took me home when he went. I'd probably be too freaked out about someone snatching my kid to do that stuff now.
 
As far as I am concerned......Today vs when I was in school, apples and oranges.
Many many more cars on the road, any idiot can, and does own one. I was taken to school by my dad, the bus, or I walked. Got home the same way. I experienced all of it. Never got into trouble, knew better.
 
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