School district could backpedal on policy

[Ptarmigan]

School district could backpedal on policy
By DENNIS YUSKO, Staff writer
First published in print: Tuesday, September 29, 2009

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Seventh-grader Adam Marino is getting a firsthand lesson in civil disobedience.

The 12-year-old and his mother, Janette Kaddo Marino, are defying Saratoga Springs school policy by biking to Maple Avenue Middle School on Route 9. The Jackson Street residents pedal more than four miles together each way to the middle school on nice days despite being told not to by school officials and police.

"I guess you can say that we continue to do what we feel is our right," Kaddo Marino said recently. "We feel strongly we have a right to get to school by a mode of transportation we deem appropriate."

Their methods may be unconventional, but the Marinos are part of a growing number of Americans challenging the sedentary habits of today's youths and what they view as overanxious "helicopter" parenting. As fewer children walk and bike to school nationwide, parents have started groups like the "Walking School Bus," which promotes physical activity and fitness in youth by having them walk to school with adults.

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What's wrong with kids biking or walking to school? With childhood obesity a problem, that's a good thing to encourage more activeness. Helicopter parenting has run amok.

[Celtic Rose]

What a ridiculous school policy, especially if his mother is biking along with him.   

[Chris_]

I walked or rode a bike to school from the 4th grade until I had a car when I was 15.  I was driven to school only when it was pouring rain or snowing (but it was uphill both ways  ).  The schools where we live now prohibit this regardless of the distance.  The children must ride the bus or be driven to school even if they live across the street.   

[Ptarmigan]

I walked or rode a bike to school from the 4th grade until I had a car when I was 15.  I was driven to school only when it was pouring rain or snowing (but it was uphill both ways  ).  The schools where we live now prohibit this regardless of the distance.  The children must ride the bus or be driven to school even if they live across the street.   

Doesn't that contribute to more Global Warming, which means more carbon offsets. 

[thundley4]

My high school didn't care how you got there.  Those in the small town where the school was didn't have a bus, so had to walk, ride or drive. Those where the buses ran could ride the bus or get their own way to school.

[IassaFTots]

When I was growing up, the bus only came to get you if you lived 2 miles or more away from school.  We lived 1.5 miles away from school.  I either walked, rode my bike, or had my parents drop me off on their way to work, which meant I would be skulking around the school for oh, about 2 hours or so before it started.  I skulked alot.  For whatever reason, I never minded walking home, but I didn't like walking to school. 

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

The day minor bureaucrats can make rules for which people can be arrested is the day we need to push back HARD.

[mamacags]

I walked or rode a bike to school from the 4th grade until I had a car when I was 15.  I was driven to school only when it was pouring rain or snowing (but it was uphill both ways  ).  The schools where we live now prohibit this regardless of the distance.  The children must ride the bus or be driven to school even if they live across the street.   

They tried that with my son.  I told them it was a stupid policy and I wouldn't obey it.  It would take twice as long for him to ride the bus to school as it would for me to walk him the 500 feet to school.

[mamacags]

I walked or rode a bike to school from the 4th grade until I had a car when I was 15.  I was driven to school only when it was pouring rain or snowing (but it was uphill both ways  ).  The schools where we live now prohibit this regardless of the distance.  The children must ride the bus or be driven to school even if they live across the street.   

They tried that with my son.  I told them it was a stupid policy and I wouldn't obey it.  It would take twice as long for him to ride the bus to school as it would for me to walk him the 500 feet to school.