It's Now Deemed "Neglect" To Let Your Kids Walk To The Library Or The Park
This was normal when I was growing up. I walked to school, three-quarters of a mile away, rode my bike to the store, and went to the park after school and came home in time for dinner. And to think that I called my parents "overprotective."
Today, they'd be near-criminals, like the Maryland parents accused of "unsubstantiated" child neglect (a legal term there), for letting their children, ages 10 and 6, walk home without them or other adults from a park a mile away from their house.
Donna St. George writes in the WaPo:
The finding of unsubstantiated child neglect means CPS will keep a file on the family for at least five years and leaves open the question of what would happen if the Meitiv children get reported again for walking without adult supervision.The parents say they will continue to allow their son, Rafi, 10, and daughter Dvora, 6, to play or walk together, and won't be swayed by the CPS finding.
"We don't feel it was appropriate for an investigation to start, much less conclude that we are responsible for some form of child neglect," said Danielle Meitiv, who said she and her husband plan to appeal and worry about being investigated again by CPS.
...The Meitivs' case has produced strong reactions about what constitutes responsible parenting, how safe children really are and whether the government overstepped its role.
The Meitivs, both scientists by training, embrace a "free-range" philosophy of parenting, believing that children learn self-reliance by being allowed to make choices, build independence and progressively experience the world on their own.
...The Meitivs say they have let their children walk together to a park a block away, to a nearby 7-Eleven and to a library three-quarters of a mile from their house. Lately the children walk home from their school bus stop.
They say that when CPS started its investigation, on the day of their children's walk from the park, Alexander Meitiv was asked to sign a form saying he would not leave the children unsupervised until CPS followed up. When he resisted, saying he wanted to talk to a lawyer, he was told that if he did not sign, the children would be removed, the Meitivs said.
CPS officials have said they are guided in part by a state law that says children younger than 8 must be left with a reliable person who is at least 13. The law addresses children locked or confined in a building, dwelling, motor vehicle or other enclosed space, but does not mention children outdoors on a walk.
...Danielle Meitiv said that in spite of the decision, her children played at a nearby park by themselves Monday, when schools were closed for the snow day. They came home with a lost dog, and the family found its owner.
Throughout human history, 10-year-olds, or even younger kids, have cared for their younger siblings. This teaches the older child responsibility and takes some of the responsibility off the parents. And no, that is not a bad thing. A child's parents should not be spending the entire day all up in their business. As researchers Judith Rich Harris, Peter Gray, and Gabriele Principe point out, children are largely socialized by other children.
Related: How Germans parent. (Not like the pussies we've become.)
"How Germans parent" - that article pretty much describes child raising in the entire world outside the USA. Where I live, there's a horde of kids at the train station and bus stop every morning and afternoon. Why would parents need to accompany them to school? That's just baffling...
This starts with kindergarten: parents show their children the route, maybe walk with them the first couple of times. After that, the kids go on their own, usually meeting up with friends on the way, no adults required or desired.
Playgrounds? There have been enough studies to prove that padded, overly safe playgrounds cause injuries. Children don't learn to be careful, don't learn their own limits. The result of all the padding is fewer scrapes, but more broken bones.
A couple of weeks ago, we spent some time in the mountains. There was a lovely walking path alongside a gorge. There was no railing - the edge of the path was the gorge, straight down to a rocky river bed. Just nature and a nice, uncluttered path. In the US, there would be a safety railing with all sorts of warning signs. Worse, this would be necessary. Otherwise, some overprotected kid would fall into the gorge, because they have never been allowed to learn about danger.
Whatever happened to the robust, self-reliant American? Are people trying to stunt their kids?
bradley13 at March 4, 2015 12:27 AM
It is called the baby boomers Bradley. That generation is famous for trying to push the consequences of every poor outcome onto other people. Hence overreaction trying to avoid junk lawsuits.
Ben at March 4, 2015 5:36 AM
"'unsubstantiated' child abuse..."
Interesting. To those of us that speak conversational English, the word 'unsubstantiated' means "there isn't any evidence". Evidently the Maryland state legislature doesn't have access to a dictionary.
Cousin Dave at March 4, 2015 7:02 AM
Agree w/Cousin Dave. Here in West Texas kids w/in a certain distance do not have school bus service.
This is a local problem dealing with power-hungry authorities. Difficult to solve but possible. MSM might help but ...
(from SAISD web site: "Note: Any student living within two miles of their home campus is ineligible for busing. Transfer students are also ineligible for busing.)
Bob in Texas at March 4, 2015 7:14 AM
I've been listening to Beverly Cleary's "Beezus and Ramona" books on Audible with my five-year-old (to work on listening skills and introduce chapter books.) I believe it's in "Ramona the Pest" that five-year-old Ramona is allowed to walk to school with her fellow kindergartner, Howie. In "Beezus and Ramona," eight-year-old Beatrice is allowed- and encouraged- to take four-year-old Ramona to the library by herself.
Most of these books were published between the mid-fifties and the early 80's. I think that if they came out now, Cleary would have to include visits from CPS if the Quimbys allowed the girls to go outside alone.
ahw at March 4, 2015 7:37 AM
The difference is that previous generations of parents weren't suffering under the mass delusion that strangers all wanted to sex up or take their children.
Kevin at March 4, 2015 8:33 AM
"Here in West Texas kids w/in a certain distance do not have school bus service."
In the city where I live, the elementary and junior high grades used to be on a "neighborhood school" system. This literally meant that there was a school built in every neighborhood. And because of that, there was no bus service whatsoever. All kids were expected to walk or ride bikes, or be driven by parents when the circumstances called for it. Until the fifth grade, when we moved to Tennessee where they had a more centralized system, I had never set foot in a school bus.
Cousin Dave at March 4, 2015 1:22 PM
While I have no personal reason to care about this, I like that Amy's keeping the heat on.
One needn't have children to recognize that schools and other childhood realms are being fucked up by busybodies.
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at March 4, 2015 3:23 PM
Cousin Dave... most of San Diego is like that, at least for elementary and junior high.
Unless you're "lucky" like my friend that lived across the street and are chosen to go to a magnet school. Then you have to get up super early and be bussed into a horrible neighborhood where you learn things like making friends (via helping them with schoolwork) so they'll protect you. Seriously.. he essentially had body guards at one point.
Thankfully I was only 1/2 way through Kindergarten when my parents pulled my sister (who was in 3rd) and me out of public and spent the money to send us to private school (also in the neighborhood, thankfully).
Miguelitosd at March 4, 2015 5:19 PM
When & where I group up we used the neighborhood school system for elementary. Still that covered a big area. From my parents house to the school was almost a 3 mile walk. about 10 miles would have been from the furthest corner. The jr high would have been about 10 miles for me - probably 15 to 20 for some.
My public library was about a 20 mile drive. The nearest park (tiny little speck) was almost 4 miles.
Plus most of the roads where "country" roads - legal classification. In this case it meant high speed limits 40 or 45 and little to no shoulder.
The Former Banker at March 4, 2015 6:32 PM
Kids here, 5th grade and older, besides going to school in groups, also ride the trains and in the evenings for lessons, swimming school and things like that.
Crime is down in the US, but looking at the media you'd think you were in grave danger going about your daily business. My niece had to call/text home:
when she reached the bus stop
when she safely boarded the school bus
and when she went into the school building
All the parents were like this. It's as if they think people are hiding behind every utility pole, and this is in a little town in MA, population of 48,000, 6 murders in the last 15 years, where the police blotter is full of things like reports of lost cats and the occasional drunk yelling in a parking lot. Oh, no, though! People are just waiting behind every bush to grab your kids. The fear is totally out of proportion to any actual danger level.
crella at March 4, 2015 8:48 PM
I rarely watch the news but it was on in the bar when I was waiting for my friend. A number of shootings and an attempted grab of a child. Not in my part of town. Still no comforting.
The Former Banker at March 4, 2015 9:37 PM
It's as if they think people are hiding behind every utility pole, and this is in a little town in MA, population of 48,000, 6 murders in the last 15 years, where the police blotter is full of things like reports of lost cats and the occasional drunk yelling in a parking lot. Oh, no, though! People are just waiting behind every bush to grab your kids. The fear is totally out of proportion to any actual danger level.
Of course, the statistical danger comes from within the family, or that swell guy, Mommy's New Boyfriend. I'd put money on more sexual attacks happening at home than in a half-mile walk to school.
Kevin at March 4, 2015 10:59 PM
Are you going South Park on me Kevin. For the safety of our children we must abandon them!
Ep 90, Child Abduction is Not Funny.
Ben at March 5, 2015 7:15 AM
"My son is a Mongolian!?!"
lujlp at March 5, 2015 11:13 AM
Well, unless someone specifically mentions the "threat" of abduction, let's not forget that SUVs have made crossing the street (for a kid under 4 feet high) a very different deal from what it used to be in Beverly Cleary's old writing days. (That is, it's harder for drivers to see little kids.) Unfortunately.
lenona at March 6, 2015 2:18 PM
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