TOT: phones at school

BULLSHIT

I think I was taken to school for the first term only. When I was about four I was allowed to take my grandfather's dog for a walk as long as I did not cross any roads. As my mum put it, 'Even if you don't, the dog will know the way home'.

Things have changed.

My own children are 16, 18 and 21. When they were at primary school, it was a bit too far to walk (cycling would have been okay). Many pupils cannot get into their local school and have to travel further or the local school is poor and best avoided. In our case it was because my wife wanted them to attend the church school that she attended and also that gave priority access to the church secondary school, which was very good academically.

The school rules prevented any child below year 5 (might have been 6) from leaving the school unless an adult was there to pick them up, so for many, walking or cycling home alone was not an option - even if they lived in the houses opposite the school! They would not even allow older siblings to walk them home.

On arrival in the morning, parents were *required* to stay until the school bell rang and they all lined up to go in.

Stupid approach and none of ours do it like that.

Ditto.

Most show up on the school bus, but that's because its too far for the younger primary school kids.

Plenty do still walk or ride their bike unaccomanied.

Even the ones waiting for the bus are unaccompanied by any adult.