given new, later, start time, can I drop my 4th grader at the (closed) door at 8:30?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You mean going 35 in 30 mph zone.

I would say it is a guideline not a rule... Oh wait it is a guideline not a rule. What if a walker gets there faster than they expected.

Notwithstanding what many people believe, the speed limit is actually not a guideline; it's the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember the good ole days when kids ages 5-11 actually had a backbone and normal parents raising them. When they walked to school or the bus stop on their own and then freely played on the school grounds and playground until the bell rang and we all ran in refreshed and ready to sit down for the day. If they lived too far away they took a city bus or the subway to school.

What a sad coddling world MCPS and you all are raising your kids. Structured before and after care. Walking or even DRIVING them to the bus stop (it may be too cold for Suzy to walk 100 yards!!) Driving instead of biking or walking and if you decide to walk, you better walk right next to them and warn them of all the dangers of this world. No using playground equipment once arriving at school. Sit in a straight line in the cafeteria for 10-15 minutes BEFORE sitting in school all day.

Just stop and realize. Kids are fat. Kids are anxious. Kids are oblivious. Kids have ADD/ADHD/anxiety and depression issues. Kids are dependent. Kids aren't critical thinking solvers. We are honestly ruining our kids by over-parenting and over structuring.

A 4th grader could easily walk or ride a bike to school, even crossing a road with a (gasp) traffic light!!! If it is too far then take a ride-on bus to school. There is no reason a mom should have to worry about this. And there is no reason a 4th grader needs paid before care for a 15 minute gap. If anything, drop her off a block before school and have her walk the rest of the way to make up the time difference. This is honestly no big deal.

Yes, a 10 year can be unsupervised and walk/bike to school. For me, the question is whether it's ok to break the school's rules or not. Your solution sounds like a good one, drop the kid a 15 minute walk away from the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, a 10 year can be unsupervised and walk/bike to school. For me, the question is whether it's ok to break the school's rules or not. Your solution sounds like a good one, drop the kid a 15 minute walk away from the school.

Kid: If you're already driving me part of the way, how come you can't just take me all the way to school?
You: Because that's the school rule.
Kid: That's a dumb rule.
You: ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, a 10 year can be unsupervised and walk/bike to school. For me, the question is whether it's ok to break the school's rules or not. Your solution sounds like a good one, drop the kid a 15 minute walk away from the school.

Kid: If you're already driving me part of the way, how come you can't just take me all the way to school?
You: Because that's the school rule.
Kid: That's a dumb rule.
You: ?

I don't make the rules.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised by all these responses. When I was in school we had safety patrols who watched the kids until school started. I think patrols came an hour early

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember the good ole days when kids ages 5-11 actually had a backbone and normal parents raising them. When they walked to school or the bus stop on their own and then freely played on the school grounds and playground until the bell rang and we all ran in refreshed and ready to sit down for the day. If they lived too far away they took a city bus or the subway to school.

What a sad coddling world MCPS and you all are raising your kids. Structured before and after care. Walking or even DRIVING them to the bus stop (it may be too cold for Suzy to walk 100 yards!!) Driving instead of biking or walking and if you decide to walk, you better walk right next to them and warn them of all the dangers of this world. No using playground equipment once arriving at school. Sit in a straight line in the cafeteria for 10-15 minutes BEFORE sitting in school all day.

Just stop and realize. Kids are fat. Kids are anxious. Kids are oblivious. Kids have ADD/ADHD/anxiety and depression issues. Kids are dependent. Kids aren't critical thinking solvers. We are honestly ruining our kids by over-parenting and over structuring.

A 4th grader could easily walk or ride a bike to school, even crossing a road with a (gasp) traffic light!!! If it is too far then take a ride-on bus to school. There is no reason a mom should have to worry about this. And there is no reason a 4th grader needs paid before care for a 15 minute gap. If anything, drop her off a block before school and have her walk the rest of the way to make up the time difference. This is honestly no big deal.

Could not agree more and am willing to take legal action to make change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised by all these responses. When I was in school we had safety patrols who watched the kids until school started. I think patrols came an hour early

If you are talking about crossing guards, that is no longer the case. They arrive no more than 15 minutes before doors open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember the good ole days when kids ages 5-11 actually had a backbone and normal parents raising them. When they walked to school or the bus stop on their own and then freely played on the school grounds and playground until the bell rang and we all ran in refreshed and ready to sit down for the day. If they lived too far away they took a city bus or the subway to school.

What a sad coddling world MCPS and you all are raising your kids. Structured before and after care. Walking or even DRIVING them to the bus stop (it may be too cold for Suzy to walk 100 yards!!) Driving instead of biking or walking and if you decide to walk, you better walk right next to them and warn them of all the dangers of this world. No using playground equipment once arriving at school. Sit in a straight line in the cafeteria for 10-15 minutes BEFORE sitting in school all day.

Just stop and realize. Kids are fat. Kids are anxious. Kids are oblivious. Kids have ADD/ADHD/anxiety and depression issues. Kids are dependent. Kids aren't critical thinking solvers. We are honestly ruining our kids by over-parenting and over structuring.

A 4th grader could easily walk or ride a bike to school, even crossing a road with a (gasp) traffic light!!! If it is too far then take a ride-on bus to school. There is no reason a mom should have to worry about this. And there is no reason a 4th grader needs paid before care for a 15 minute gap. If anything, drop her off a block before school and have her walk the rest of the way to make up the time difference. This is honestly no big deal.

Could not agree more and am willing to take legal action to make change.

Oh geez, then get a lawyer and sue over it waste your time and money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised by all these responses. When I was in school we had safety patrols who watched the kids until school started. I think patrols came an hour early

If you are talking about crossing guards, that is no longer the case. They arrive no more than 15 minutes before doors open.

Safety patrols are students, not paid adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember the good ole days when kids ages 5-11 actually had a backbone and normal parents raising them. When they walked to school or the bus stop on their own and then freely played on the school grounds and playground until the bell rang and we all ran in refreshed and ready to sit down for the day. If they lived too far away they took a city bus or the subway to school.

What a sad coddling world MCPS and you all are raising your kids. Structured before and after care. Walking or even DRIVING them to the bus stop (it may be too cold for Suzy to walk 100 yards!!) Driving instead of biking or walking and if you decide to walk, you better walk right next to them and warn them of all the dangers of this world. No using playground equipment once arriving at school. Sit in a straight line in the cafeteria for 10-15 minutes BEFORE sitting in school all day.

Just stop and realize. Kids are fat. Kids are anxious. Kids are oblivious. Kids have ADD/ADHD/anxiety and depression issues. Kids are dependent. Kids aren't critical thinking solvers. We are honestly ruining our kids by over-parenting and over structuring.

A 4th grader could easily walk or ride a bike to school, even crossing a road with a (gasp) traffic light!!! If it is too far then take a ride-on bus to school. There is no reason a mom should have to worry about this. And there is no reason a 4th grader needs paid before care for a 15 minute gap. If anything, drop her off a block before school and have her walk the rest of the way to make up the time difference. This is honestly no big deal.

You really do not understand the issues here and you really are over idealizing the past!!
I was a latchkey, I turned out great, but I sure as s*** am not dropping my kid where I am told not to.
Your idealized arm chair philosophy does not trump laws, regulations and other people's property.

Okay helicopter, we understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right..family 1 says good by to 4th grader who walks to school alone. She crosses 5 streets and a good number of strangers a long the way. Family 2 drops their fourth grader right at the entrance to the school where she waits with several other kids she knows. Family 1 is a fine family. Family 2 is borderline neglectful and not prioritizing their child.

Both families are fine, no neglect in either scenario. The only question is whether it's ok to break school rules. Some posters think yes, some no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised by all these responses. When I was in school we had safety patrols who watched the kids until school started. I think patrols came an hour early

My school has nearly 700 students. It isn't safe or fail to be expect kids to be in charge of other kids. It is fair to expect the OP to either follow the rules or pay someone else to follow them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember the good ole days when kids ages 5-11 actually had a backbone and normal parents raising them. When they walked to school or the bus stop on their own and then freely played on the school grounds and playground until the bell rang and we all ran in refreshed and ready to sit down for the day. If they lived too far away they took a city bus or the subway to school.

What a sad coddling world MCPS and you all are raising your kids. Structured before and after care. Walking or even DRIVING them to the bus stop (it may be too cold for Suzy to walk 100 yards!!) Driving instead of biking or walking and if you decide to walk, you better walk right next to them and warn them of all the dangers of this world. No using playground equipment once arriving at school. Sit in a straight line in the cafeteria for 10-15 minutes BEFORE sitting in school all day.

Just stop and realize. Kids are fat. Kids are anxious. Kids are oblivious. Kids have ADD/ADHD/anxiety and depression issues. Kids are dependent. Kids aren't critical thinking solvers. We are honestly ruining our kids by over-parenting and over structuring.

A 4th grader could easily walk or ride a bike to school, even crossing a road with a (gasp) traffic light!!! If it is too far then take a ride-on bus to school. There is no reason a mom should have to worry about this. And there is no reason a 4th grader needs paid before care for a 15 minute gap. If anything, drop her off a block before school and have her walk the rest of the way to make up the time difference. This is honestly no big deal.

So by your thinking 5-6 year olds should be allowed to do this too? Or only kids 4th grade and up? What about a 4th grader with a sibling in kindergarten? How would these kinds of exceptions go over with parents? That's why there is a blanket rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember the good ole days when kids ages 5-11 actually had a backbone and normal parents raising them. When they walked to school or the bus stop on their own and then freely played on the school grounds and playground until the bell rang and we all ran in refreshed and ready to sit down for the day. If they lived too far away they took a city bus or the subway to school.

What a sad coddling world MCPS and you all are raising your kids. Structured before and after care. Walking or even DRIVING them to the bus stop (it may be too cold for Suzy to walk 100 yards!!) Driving instead of biking or walking and if you decide to walk, you better walk right next to them and warn them of all the dangers of this world. No using playground equipment once arriving at school. Sit in a straight line in the cafeteria for 10-15 minutes BEFORE sitting in school all day.

Just stop and realize. Kids are fat. Kids are anxious. Kids are oblivious. Kids have ADD/ADHD/anxiety and depression issues. Kids are dependent. Kids aren't critical thinking solvers. We are honestly ruining our kids by over-parenting and over structuring.

A 4th grader could easily walk or ride a bike to school, even crossing a road with a (gasp) traffic light!!! If it is too far then take a ride-on bus to school. There is no reason a mom should have to worry about this. And there is no reason a 4th grader needs paid before care for a 15 minute gap. If anything, drop her off a block before school and have her walk the rest of the way to make up the time difference. This is honestly no big deal.

Could not agree more and am willing to take legal action to make change.

So essentially you're willing to spend money fighting the current policy so that you won't have to spend money on before care and have assurance that your child is under adult supervision? Makes sense...

[Anonymous]

what if...parents organized and volunteered to supervise the playground? at recess time i think there are ~100 kids and 2 adults...if a handful of parents each volunteered once a month this could take care of a lot families problems...

or is that not allowed?