Dear Reason: On Monday, a Montgomery County [Maryland] child
protective services worker went to my children's school and
interviewed them without my knowledge or consent. Why?
Because last month we'd let them walk home from the park by
themselves. It's a mile away. They are 6 and 10. We live in
suburban Maryland. Let me recap the story and then tell you where
we're at.
On a Saturday afternoon in December, my husband,
Alexander, gave our kids permission to walk home from the local
playground. I was out of town at the time. When they'd walked about
halfway, a Montgomery County Police patrol car pulled up. A
"helpful" neighbor had called 911 to report unaccompanied children
walking outside. Our kids were brought home in a police
cruiser.
At the door the police officer asked to see my husband's ID, but
did not explain why. When he refused, she called for backup.
A total of six patrol cars showed up...
Ms. Meitiv notes that MCPS's policy of not providing transportation to children who live within a mile of school is sending a message that young children are permitted to walk alone. However, that's not necessarily so...it's just sending the message that MCPS doesn't provide transportation.
If we parents have been expected, all this time, to walk our elementary-aged children to school, isn't it a bit late to tell us this? I certainly don't recall getting any notices during the past 8 years I've had kids in MCPS. If all parents are indeed expected to escort their children to and from school, CPS will find much more low-hanging fruit by just watching which children walk home alone after school from every school in MCPS each day.
"Ignorance of the law excuses no man. Not that all men know the law, but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to refute him." John Seldon
The focussing on parents' rights, safety, and roles of governments, ignores what is of overriding importance, namely person-health.
Although my childhood leash was not at the short extreme of the continuum, the delay of age-appropriate / individual-appropriate extensions both delayed my social development, and was a major factor in my permanent estrangement from my parents.
I express it this way: Suffocation does not endear.
Ms. Meitiv notes that MCPS's policy of not providing transportation to children who live within a mile of school is sending a message that young children are permitted to walk alone. However, that's not necessarily so...it's just sending the message that MCPS doesn't provide transportation.
ReplyDeleteIf we parents have been expected, all this time, to walk our elementary-aged children to school, isn't it a bit late to tell us this? I certainly don't recall getting any notices during the past 8 years I've had kids in MCPS. If all parents are indeed expected to escort their children to and from school, CPS will find much more low-hanging fruit by just watching which children walk home alone after school from every school in MCPS each day.
Delete"Ignorance of the law excuses no man. Not that all men know the law, but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to refute him." John Seldon
DeleteThe focussing on parents' rights, safety, and roles of governments,
ReplyDeleteignores what is of overriding importance, namely person-health.
Although my childhood leash was not at the short extreme of the continuum,
the delay of age-appropriate / individual-appropriate extensions
both delayed my social development, and was a
major factor in my permanent estrangement from my parents.
I express it this way: Suffocation does not endear.