How Far Down The Crapper We Are As A Country: Law Passed To Keep Parents From Being Arrested When Their Kids Go Around Without An Armed Security Detail
Kids now, by law, can do what I did every day as a kid (unless it was raining not only cats and dogs but small livestock and farm implements).
Yes, a law was passed, the ambitious bullshittedly-titled, ''Every Student Succeeds Act," with a bit in it that specifies that kids can now walk to school by themeslves -- without their parents being arrested for it.
(b), nothing in this Act shall authorize the Secretary to, or shall be construed to--'(1) prohibit a child from traveling to and from
school on foot or by car, bus, or bike when the parents of the child have given permission; or''(2) expose parents to civil or criminal charges for allowing their child to responsibly and safely travel to and from school by a means the parents believe is age appropriate.
However, as Cory Doctorow at BoingBoing notes:
It's a largely symbolic victory, alas, as this does not preclude state and local dunderheads from passing laws that put parents in jeopardy for allowing their kids to be in public unaccompanied.
Count on it.
But let's name that local law something cloying yet appropriate, such as "Sphincter's Law."
Coinage: "bullshittedly." ☑
Crid at January 12, 2017 2:30 AM
Incidentally, it's very difficult to find a rhyme for "sphincter".
the other rob at January 12, 2017 4:39 AM
Thank you, boys and boys.
Amy Alkon at January 12, 2017 5:27 AM
""sphincter" - linked her!
Amy Alkon at January 12, 2017 5:29 AM
Maybe they can amend this to allow kids shooting hoops after school?
http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/06/14/florida-parents-charged-felony-neglect-after-11-year-old-son-plays-backyard-90-minutes
Bob in Texas at January 12, 2017 5:30 AM
I didn't realize it was the FBI arresting parents. As noted a federal law is irrelevant. It is local cops doing the harassment.
Ben at January 12, 2017 6:10 AM
If the kid did have an armed security detail, I'm sure there would be an outcry about "exposing a child to gun violence".
Cousin Dave at January 12, 2017 6:49 AM
Tincture
Picture
Blender whirr
In a blur
Wearing fur
What a cur
Oh yes, 'der'
Suz at January 12, 2017 7:31 AM
As a kid, in the summer when I was age 10+ we left in the morning, came home for lunch, went out again and my dad blew a cow horn (yes, literally the horn from a cow) to call us to dinner. It carried about 2 blocks. Parents had no idea where we were. Yes, this was in a nice suburb, but parents get in trouble in similar suburbs today.
cc at January 12, 2017 12:07 PM
Bob, rumor has it the kid was making a lot of noise and the neighbor got fed up. Overreaction, to be sure, but preteens should really be more considerate than that.
lenona at January 12, 2017 2:13 PM
lenona, not picking on you but:
"They were put in handcuffs, strip searched, fingerprinted, and held overnight in jail.
It would be a month before their sons—the 11-year-old and his 4-year-old brother—were allowed home again. Only after the eldest spoke up and begged a judge to give him back to his parents did the situation improve."
is NOT overreaction. It is beyond wrong. This is so wrong that war should be raged upon the people that chose to use their authority in this manner.
Bob in Texas at January 12, 2017 4:28 PM
From Bob's link:
"He had no bathroom, but the responding officer found our yard good enough to relieve himself in while our son sat in a police car alone."
So what charge should be filed against the officer for using their yard as HIS bathroom?
charles at January 12, 2017 5:34 PM
This evening, a kid maybe age 7 came to my door as I called my kids in to eat, and asked me to drive him home. I've seen this kid, at the city all abilities park. Evidently goes to school with my kids. It was 90% dark so I said yes, figuring it was a couple blocks. It was over a mile. In a different neighborhood. And he didn't know the way well, it took time and backtracking to find it. His parents didn't know where he was. Nor did they seem too concerned he got dropped off by some strange woman. If I'd grabbed my cell phone as we'd left my house, I would have called the cops. That was NOT safe.
Still no idea how he got here. There were main roads between us. Hubby was adamantly against me giving a ride-too leery of me being accused of something. Had I known the distance, I'd have called the cops from my house and let them haul him home, and find out why he was wandering in the dark alone, rather than take the risk myself.
momof4 at January 12, 2017 5:48 PM
Considering the implications for homeschoolers - we are almost always going to or from the school...
Shannon at January 12, 2017 8:21 PM
The city "all abilities park"?
Oof.
Radwaste at January 13, 2017 2:55 AM
momof4; kudos to you; but, your hubby is right. That is something a guy could NEVER do unless he wants to be accused of "something."
charles at January 13, 2017 6:36 PM
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