So this is this morning, and Juicebox is dressed up yet again. Turns out that today is “Courtesy Day” or something at school, but apparently his dressing up yesterday was an individual effort. I’m starting to wonder if he’s not the Michael J Fox character on Family Ties…
Survived first week back after three off for paternity leave.
What more can I say?
***
Heard this piece on NPR about gangs in Southern California. The reporter found a gang member who said what’s needed to fix things are more opportunities like jobs and stuff for kids. This gang member said, “They need to give us jobs.” The “they” here being the government, I suppose.
I wonder what tree in Southern California has jobs growing on it? I don’t know, but I just don’t buy that. So, let’s see if the government doesn’t give out jobs, then a life of crime is the logical conclusion?
***
Funny, but I didn’t see a post about work coming when I started this.
On the eve of the rest of Oak Ridge Schools starting back, there’s been a lot of talk about how the safety of students in the Walk Zone has been compromised. Many have thrown blame on the City Council for not adequately funding the schools; others have blamed the School Board for not having student safety as a priority. I think that both sides have valid criticisms, but there’s a third party involved that hasn’t received much attention.
What about the parents?
It seems to me that parents and legal guardians are ultimately responsible for the safety and care of their children. If we lived in the Walk Zone (also called the Parent Responsibility Zone), we would probably grumble about being inconvenienced, but we would also take every step possible to make sure that our kids arrived at school safely. They’re our kids and our responsibility.
Inconvenience is an interesting word for me to use, because that is exactly what it would amount to for us. I am blessed to be able to work from home and set my own schedule; most families do not have that luxury. I understand that within the Walk Zone are many families for whom the lack of bus transportation is a particular hardship. Especially those without a reliable car, or whose work schedules conflict with school times, or who have a physical disability that doesn’t allow them to walk their children to school. I think that those are all very legitimate issues.
But there is something that goes a little deeper than these surface issues. It’s a problem I’ve witnessed firsthand at Willow Brook functions, in grocery stores and driving down the road. There are parents out there who simply don’t take responsibility for their kids. Just the other day I heard of a parent who was bitching about getting her child to school because she “just didn’t think she could wake up early enough.” So while I am sympathetic to families who are truly struggling with the bus cuts, I have absolutely no sympathy for parents who put their lifestyles above the safety of their kids.
Other than situations of parental abuse or neglect, why is it suddenly okay to shift the burden of responsibility from the parents to the government? Because when it gets down to it, the City Council and the School Board are not responsible for the safety of kids in the Walk Zone. Ultimately, parents are responsible for their children.
Don’t get me wrong, I want bussing to be reinstated as much as the next person. I’ve just grown tired of the Board vs. Council hoopla, while a blind eye is turned to the larger social problem of deadbeat parents.