Parents are going to continue dropping their kids at school. Maybe the
school is on the way to work and it's the only time the parent has to
talk to the child. Maybe the child has 50+ pounds of books in her/his
backpack. Maybe she/he has to bring a big poster or project to school.
Maybe the parent is afraid that unless she/he watches the child actually
enter the school, the child may not actually enter the school. Maybe the
bus driver is a religious fanatic who makes the kids listen to Christian
music on the bus. Maybe there are bullies on the bus. etc. etc. etc.
Most (not all) of this stuff has occurred in our family.
Maybe schools should establish drop off zones that are at least one
block from the school with adult supervision along the walk from zone to
school (with umbrellas when it's raining).
Maybe bikies at each school should establish "bike-bus" routes where
adult leaders bike with a pack of kids (establish routes and start times
for those who sign up. Give prizes - waterbottles, gloves, jersies, etc.
to kids who participate x% during the semester (use a punch ticket
attached to the bike))
When possible my child and I take the bus to my work and then she rides
on (about 1.5 miles) to school. She rides back to my work after and we
ride home together. She's been riding her bike to school since she was
about 6 months old (ok I was riding the bike, but she was in the bike
seat). This morning I talked to a young man who was taking the city bus
to high school (a closer one than ours). This year, the school bus co.
decided he lives too close (probably about 1.2 miles) to take the school
bus to school so he has to ride the city bus or get a ride from his
parent. "Why don't you ride your bike?" I asked. I dont' think he'd ever
thought of it but think I can convert him.
One at a time.
- cathy
--
Cathy Van Maren
Upward Bound
176 Murphy
UW-L
La Crosse, WI 54601
608 785-8539
608 785-8757 (fax)
www.uwlax.edu/UpBound
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