Would you let a 6th grader stand at the bus stop by herself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Helicopter Alert.

Kids in middle school should be on their own. They can cross streets, walk alone, bike alone, stay in the house alone.

Time to wake up people. They aren't babies anymore.

The kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard occurred on June 10, 1991, in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dugard was 11 years old at the time and was abducted from a street while she was walking from home to a school bus stop. Searches began immediately after the kidnapping, but no reliable leads were generated. She remained missing for more than 18 years. On August 24 and 25, 2009, convicted sex offender Phillip Craig Garrido visited the campus of UC Berkeley accompanied by two girls. Their unusual behavior sparked an investigation that led Garrido's parole officer ordering him to bring the girls to a parole office on August 26, accompanied by a young woman who was then identified as Dugard.

Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy Garrido, 54, of Antioch, California, were arrested for kidnapping and other charges. On April 28, 2011, they pleaded guilty to Dugard's kidnapping and sexual assault. Law enforcement officers believe Dugard was kept in a concealed area behind the Garridos' house in Antioch for 18 years. During this time, Dugard bore two daughters who were ages 11 and 15 at the time of her reappearance. On June 2, 2011, Phillip Garrido was sentenced to 431 years imprisonment; his wife Nancy Garrido received 36 years to life.[1]

That happened in 1991. Why do we remember the case? Because cases like that are very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very rare.

Remember that kid who died in the car crash last week? No? That's because cases like that happen much more frequently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Helicopter Alert.

Kids in middle school should be on their own. They can cross streets, walk alone, bike alone, stay in the house alone.

Time to wake up people. They aren't babies anymore.

The kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard occurred on June 10, 1991, in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dugard was 11 years old at the time and was abducted from a street while she was walking from home to a school bus stop. Searches began immediately after the kidnapping, but no reliable leads were generated. She remained missing for more than 18 years. On August 24 and 25, 2009, convicted sex offender Phillip Craig Garrido visited the campus of UC Berkeley accompanied by two girls. Their unusual behavior sparked an investigation that led Garrido's parole officer ordering him to bring the girls to a parole office on August 26, accompanied by a young woman who was then identified as Dugard.

Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy Garrido, 54, of Antioch, California, were arrested for kidnapping and other charges. On April 28, 2011, they pleaded guilty to Dugard's kidnapping and sexual assault. Law enforcement officers believe Dugard was kept in a concealed area behind the Garridos' house in Antioch for 18 years. During this time, Dugard bore two daughters who were ages 11 and 15 at the time of her reappearance. On June 2, 2011, Phillip Garrido was sentenced to 431 years imprisonment; his wife Nancy Garrido received 36 years to life.[1]

That happened in 1991. Why do we remember the case? Because cases like that are very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very rare.

Remember that kid who died in the car crash last week? No? That's because cases like that happen much more frequently.

And it's better for a kid to stand in the dark and possibly be hit? There are tons of things that can go wrong. It's not irresponsible parenting to give your kids the tools to be successful adults. One of the best tools is for a girl to look at a situation and decide whether it's work the risk or not. Standing in the dark by herself is never worth the risk, in my opinion, not as a preteen, not as an adult. There are tons of things that can go wrong, and nobody would have a clue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Helicopter Alert.

Kids in middle school should be on their own. They can cross streets, walk alone, bike alone, stay in the house alone.

Time to wake up people. They aren't babies anymore.

The kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard occurred on June 10, 1991, in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dugard was 11 years old at the time and was abducted from a street while she was walking from home to a school bus stop. Searches began immediately after the kidnapping, but no reliable leads were generated. She remained missing for more than 18 years. On August 24 and 25, 2009, convicted sex offender Phillip Craig Garrido visited the campus of UC Berkeley accompanied by two girls. Their unusual behavior sparked an investigation that led Garrido's parole officer ordering him to bring the girls to a parole office on August 26, accompanied by a young woman who was then identified as Dugard.

Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy Garrido, 54, of Antioch, California, were arrested for kidnapping and other charges. On April 28, 2011, they pleaded guilty to Dugard's kidnapping and sexual assault. Law enforcement officers believe Dugard was kept in a concealed area behind the Garridos' house in Antioch for 18 years. During this time, Dugard bore two daughters who were ages 11 and 15 at the time of her reappearance. On June 2, 2011, Phillip Garrido was sentenced to 431 years imprisonment; his wife Nancy Garrido received 36 years to life.[1]

That happened in 1991. Why do we remember the case? Because cases like that are very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very rare.

Remember that kid who died in the car crash last week? No? That's because cases like that happen much more frequently.

And it's better for a kid to stand in the dark and possibly be hit? There are tons of things that can go wrong. It's not irresponsible parenting to give your kids the tools to be successful adults. One of the best tools is for a girl to look at a situation and decide whether it's work the risk or not. Standing in the dark by herself is never worth the risk, in my opinion, not as a preteen, not as an adult. There are tons of things that can go wrong, and nobody would have a clue.

NP. You only cultivate fear and insecurity in young women if you insist that the world is not safe for them. The ONLY way the world becomes safer for women and girls is by women and girls claiming the world as safe for them and acting accordingly. You have to learn to trust your gut and to defend yourself if need be. The way I've scared off men I thought were creepy/threatening? Turning toawrd them and looking them dead in the eye. Life is too short to be scared of "what-ifs."

BTW, I'm a DC native and started walking to/from school at eleven. Went on forays to the park, Union Station, and friend's houses starting at nine/ten. Nothing bad *ever* happened to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And it's better for a kid to stand in the dark and possibly be hit? There are tons of things that can go wrong. It's not irresponsible parenting to give your kids the tools to be successful adults. One of the best tools is for a girl to look at a situation and decide whether it's work the risk or not. Standing in the dark by herself is never worth the risk, in my opinion, not as a preteen, not as an adult. There are tons of things that can go wrong, and nobody would have a clue.

Never? It's NEVER worth the risk?

Also, I don't think that OP's worry is that somebody will inadvertently drive their car up onto the sidewalk and hit the OP's sixth-grader who is standing on the sidewalk waiting for the school bus. Nor should it be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And it's better for a kid to stand in the dark and possibly be hit? There are tons of things that can go wrong. It's not irresponsible parenting to give your kids the tools to be successful adults. One of the best tools is for a girl to look at a situation and decide whether it's work the risk or not. Standing in the dark by herself is never worth the risk, in my opinion, not as a preteen, not as an adult. [i][u] There are tons of things that can go wrong, and nobody would have a clue.

I don't understand this. Have you truly never stood in the dark by yourself as an adult? Not to wait for someone you're meeting, not to catch a bus, not to have some quiet time alone and look up at the stars and wonder at the marvels of the universe? That's just totally bizarre to me.
I hope you can work to overcome your fears and experience the world a little more - it's a pretty amazing place sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And it's better for a kid to stand in the dark and possibly be hit? There are tons of things that can go wrong. It's not irresponsible parenting to give your kids the tools to be successful adults. One of the best tools is for a girl to look at a situation and decide whether it's work the risk or not. Standing in the dark by herself is never worth the risk, in my opinion, not as a preteen, not as an adult. [i][u] There are tons of things that can go wrong, and nobody would have a clue.

I don't understand this. Have you truly never stood in the dark by yourself as an adult? Not to wait for someone you're meeting, not to catch a bus, not to have some quiet time alone and look up at the stars and wonder at the marvels of the universe? That's just totally bizarre to me.
I hope you can work to overcome your fears and experience the world a little more - it's a pretty amazing place sometimes.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader walks to school alone in DC. AndI thought I was being a helicopter by waiting until he was 9!

Too young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you talking about elementary schoolers are not making relevant comments. For many months of the school year it is pitch black when my middle schooler waits for the bus. I think it is up to your DD. If she feels comfortable standing alone in the dark, I'd let her. I have two kids waiting for the bus so they are out there together. If it was just one, I might think twice.

Don't be stupid, of course it's relevant. Many people would let their elementary schoolers (including my 3rd grader) walk to school/wait for the bus alone, so obviously they'd let a 6th grader. Use your head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader walks to school alone in DC. AndI thought I was being a helicopter by waiting until he was 9!

Too young.

Nah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader walks to school alone in DC. AndI thought I was being a helicopter by waiting until he was 9!

Too young.

A 9-year-old, too young to walk alone to school? I don't think so.

[Anonymous]

Dear Parent - please don't do this. Your DC is too young and couldn't handle a stranger...even if it's a flasher and has no contact with him/her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear Parent - please don't do this. Your DC is too young and couldn't handle a stranger...even if it's a flasher and has no contact with him/her.

You have a low opinion of the capabilities of 12-year-olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Parent - please don't do this. Your DC is too young and couldn't handle a stranger...even if it's a flasher and has no contact with him/her.

You have a low opinion of the capabilities of 12-year-olds.

As a 10-to-12-year-old taking public transportation all over the city, I encountered many flashers (and a few gropers). I grew up to be a well-adjusted adult who is not afraid to travel alone or (gasp) walk outside in the dark. What were my parents doing wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader walks to school alone in DC. AndI thought I was being a helicopter by waiting until he was 9!

Too young.

Come to NW DC at 8:15 and you will see such amazing acts of bravery every day. The sidewalks are abuzz with neighbors jogging, biking or walking to work and school, some kids with parents or nannies, many without. It is literally impossible to get half way down the block without running into a school mate, and the busy intersections have crossing guards. I guess suburbs and city are very different.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read all of the replies, but where I live, I would feel 100% comfortable having my sixth grader wait for the bus alone (in fact, my elementary aged kids do so). I think in most cases this would be true; however, factors that would cause me to re-think that opinion would be if it is a isolated area, or a high-crime area, or on an extremely busy street with a poor shoulder area for waiting, or if I had an extremely immature/impulsive sixth grader, etc. So with the backdrop that most time a sixth grader has the maturity to wait for the bus alone, only you can answer if it is right for your sixth grader.