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The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

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Re: The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

#251

Post by Suppafly »

thehoagie wrote: post #192

We live across the street from our kids elementary and middle schools. There is a sidewalk and a crosswalk to the school. Parents in our subdivision still choose to drive in because "the crosswalk is too dangerous". Schools can't afford crossing guards, county engineers claim it is an enforcement issue, police can't cover it with their limited staffing, and Republicans are banning school speeding cameras in Georgia.

>Schools can't afford crossing guards

Parents could get together and volunteer to do crossing duty or hire a private crossing guard, it probably wouldn't even cost very much.

Re: The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

#252

Post by dylan604 »

lolinder wrote: post #218
dylan604 wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The parent has already signed a release form at the beginning of the school year that designated their kiddo as a walker, and did not need the parent present. Just like your DoorDash option to not be needed to be present

That's still a huge step back from previous generations, where all kids were expected to find their own way to their parents, whether waiting at home, waiting in the pickup loop, or waiting a few blocks away where it's not as busy.

Maybe you're misremembering some of the details of being a kid, but I know my parents signed forms that told the school that I would be walking to/from school. That was in the early 80s.

Re: The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

#253

Post by gist »

At the core this behavior is simply a version of social proof. Parents see what other parents do and/or kids see friends being picked up and then put pressure on their parents to do the same. Then it gets to a tipping point where it just becomes the thing that you do (and nobody thinks otherwise or wants to tell their kids they won't do this or questions it).

It's also a way for a parent to think somehow they are doing the right thing and get a little enjoyment in their head (despite the time involved or wasted) 'I am a good parent'. Doesn't involve as much effort as other things a parent does (or should do) it's simple (other than the time).

Re: The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

#255

Post by antisthenes »

DavidPeiffer wrote: post #160
mmooss wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everyone here should watch the Japanese TV series, Old Enough! . 2-4 year olds are sent out on their own to run errands, etc. Yes, really, 2-4 years old. And they succeed and are fine. https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/02/old-enough.html

In grad school, a friend from China explained that he stayed home on his own starting at like age 3. He was going down to the market outside his high rise apartment, buying basic groceries, and entertaining himself all day. It blew my mind, he saw nothing wrong with it.

There's nothing wrong with it.

It's actually impressive that you can entertain yourself at 3-4 years old.

My perception of time at that age would have been such that I'd probably be very fearful of being abandoned if left alone for more than 2-3 hours.

But kudos to him.

Re: The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

#256

Post by Suppafly »

Aurornis wrote: post #103
me_smith wrote: post #63

My mom walked me to school until I was in 4th grade. She was a single mom and needed to work, so she decided to let me walk to and from school from then on. I made friends on that walk. 30+ years later, I am still friends with many of them even though we live hours away from each other. I'm not a parent, so I don't know what I don't know; but, I've observed so many kids being shuffled between school, events, "play da…

There's an entire section and even a chart in the article that explains why this is different now In 1969 only about 30% of kids lived too far away from school for walking to be a realistic option. In 2009 (and today) that numbers is around 80%. Walking to and from school is great if you can do it. Most people cannot do it.

>Walking to and from school is great if you can do it.

This. I would have let my kids walk to school, but one of the intersections would have been totally unsafe.

Re: The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

#257

Post by bluGill »

thehoagie wrote: post #192

We live across the street from our kids elementary and middle schools. There is a sidewalk and a crosswalk to the school. Parents in our subdivision still choose to drive in because "the crosswalk is too dangerous". Schools can't afford crossing guards, county engineers claim it is an enforcement issue, police can't cover it with their limited staffing, and Republicans are banning school speeding cameras in Georgia.

> county engineers claim it is an enforcement issue,

They are probably professional engineers who can lose their license if anyone discovered that there have long been known road designs that prevent this. It will take some research, but the law is on your side to have them dismissed for cause if enforcement is all they are relying on.

Re: The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

#258

Post by qball »

antisthenes wrote: post #239
qball wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>That wouldn't work in US until the whole culture changes. This is one of those things laws are great at. Delete the power of idiot Karens and the culture will return to normal. It works for Utah (and to a point, Texas); it can work for your polity, too. When children are at far greater risk of abuse and abduction by concern trolls and the State, and they very much are in New World countries, your society is broken.

> This is one of those things laws are great at. Delete the power of idiot Karens and the culture will return to normal. How? Those idiot Karens are the ones writing the laws. They get on your state legislature and local town ordinances, and prevent more housing from being built too. They have no competence and they do everything in the name of "safety", so you can't challenge them with logic or reason. They are usua…

That does not mean attempts to defeat them should not be made. Sometimes they even succeed.

Karen delenda est.

Re: The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

#259

Post by bluGill »

gizajob wrote: post #202
adrian_b wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

During nice weather, surely, but it might be very unpleasant when raining. When I hear these stories about how children in USA go to school, I am always astonished. In Europe, my parents took me to the school one single time, for the first school day, when I was 6 years old. Everyday after that I have gone there and come back alone, for a walk of about one mile and a half. Several years later, I continued my studies…

“Nice weather” /= UK

True, but "bad weather" /= UK as well. There is a large spectrum, and UK mostly sits as just a little worse than nice.

Re: The School Car Pickup Line Is a National Embarrassment

#260

Post by mitthrowaway2 »

gizajob wrote: post #206
ghaff wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who has done a bunch of long distance walks in the UK, I’ve encountered any number of relatively rural or small town roads with no shoulders along walls or hedgerows that are at least as scary as a pedestrian as anything I’ve encountered in the US.

And yet you’re still with us. Jumping onto the wall or into a hedge is part of the fun.

The ones who aren't still with us don't post comments on HN anymore.
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