Walking To School Equals Child Abuse? Preview..

Preview for Sunday 021912

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Today is one of those days. I'm actually in a pretty good mood. But there are some serious stuff that we need to talk about. There is also some fun stuff. So Happy Sunday to ya. You know who this is, you know WHAT this is. And as always, if you want to be a part of the OPNTalk Blog, by sending in Links, comments, or just say hi, the Email is opntalk@gmail.com.

Coming right up today?

World War Three?
Radio Station?
It's Coming Folks, $4 Plus a Gallon
Chick Nuggets Healthier Than Turkey or Salami on Wheat
IWA For Sunday 021912
IWA 2 for Sunday 021912

So what to do if your little Kiddie can't behave on the School Bus? Give him a ride to School? Let him stay home? Seriously? What to do. As the old saying goes, "When I was your age, we walked to School. In Snow Storms. Up hill, both ways." So a Mom who's Son got kicked off the Bus FIVE times. Yes that is 5 times, decided, he should walk to School. Now she faces Child Abuse Charges, $1000 fine, and possibly even a year in Jail. Of course, CPS had no problem jumping in here. No evidence. No proof of abuse. Just an absurd complaint from a busy body stranger, over zealous Cop, and of course, CPS just being CPS.

I could not agree with this Writer more. According to Yahoo News - Mom Who Made Son Walk to School Is Child Abuser -- Seriously? By Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Fri, Feb 17, 2012

COMMENTARY Well, Stanley, here's another fine mess.

Valerie Borders, an Arkansas mom, made her 10-year-old son Nequavion walk to school after being suspended (for the fifth time) from riding the school bus. Was she congratulated? Nope. As per ABC News, Mom was charged with child endangerment and faces one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Let's unwrap the child abuse charges. KAIT says walk to school was longish (4.5 miles). A compassionate, public-spirited (or nosy, bored) bank security guard spotted the lad trudging to school and called the police. The tween boy implored the officer, "Please sir, don't take me home or my mother will beat me." So very Dickensian.

It was also coldish, 30 degrees, though in my home state of Michigan, that's a balmy spring breeze. Kids walk daily through cold and snow in our area. Stores also sell inclement weather apparel in kids' sizes, (Nequavion was wearing such a garment). Anyway, the concern wasn't weather as much as stranger danger or injury, said officer Lyle Waterworth. He encourages other helpful citizens to call the police when they see kids walking alone.

Segue. I find no fault with the police officer for checking this out. As a mandatory reporter, he has to; it's the law. He may have suspected that Nequavion's "beating" reference was just a deflector shield to save the boy's naughty hide, (which Nequavion told KAIT it basically was). Police officers can't take that chance, however. I do fault them for filing charges, once mom explained that her son had been kicked off the bus repeatedly and was being punished.

I give Borders props -- I'm not sure, as a mom, I'd have enough moxie to enforce a march to school. As a teacher, I applaud her for following up with consequences. I once disciplined a student for kicking kids (and explained to mom why). Later, I saw that child at the grocery store enjoying an ice cream cone. Mom's explained, "he had such a hard day."

Admittedly, Nequavion's walk was long, but that's what made it consequentially perfect. As he said, it was mom's way of teaching him to appreciate the bus (kudos, Nequavion, for recognizing that). If she had chauffeured him to school, what would that have taught him? I can see the wheels turning. "Get in trouble--ride in comfy car. Be good--ride crowded, uncomfortable school bus."

Mom needs a commendation, not jail.

Yup. but then again, if I really messed up when I was a kid, Grandma would "correct" me with a switch to the behind. She would be sitting in Jail right now most likely. Have we really come to a place where the Government, CPS, can come in and rip a healthy Family apart because the feel they know better than the Parent? That would be yes.

You know, this stupidity needs to stop. Government needs to shrink and get out of our Private Lives. Let Parents BE Parents. Of course, if there IS Abuse, REAL not imagined nor created, but REAL Abuse, we have Police and Laws to take care of it. CPS is out of control, they answer to no one. They NEED to be regulated. If not disbanded. Parents need to be Parents. We need America and Freedom BACK!!
Peter