But if their parents can’t interrupt their shift at the factory or the Fuddruckers to pick up kids, what are the children of less-fortunate parents doing? Given that researchers have found a strong link between lower socioeconomic status and high absenteeism, it seems likely that some of them have not gone to school at all.
Applied economist Michael Gottfried, now at the University of Pennsylvania, called this idea perfectly plausible. And he would know: His research into the causes and consequences of absenteeism in America’s schools has been cited just about everywhere. It also has transformed him into an unabashed bus booster.
“I believe the bus is a lifeline for students,” he told us.
Ride Bikes!
Getting people to do that means getting rid of a lot of the high-front SUVs and pickups that pose an extra hazard to the people around them.
Safely? Lots of places there is no way a kid could do that.
And there are plenty where they can, yet parents don’t let them and certainly don’t teach them how to ride safely.
I ride with my kids past our neighborhood elementary school all the time (it’s on the way to the library), and we’re one of the furthest from the school (about half a mile), yet there’s still a massive line of cars, and pretty much no bikes outside. There are even crossing guards and everything, yet I only see a handful of kids crossing.
Parents are super protective of their children here. We get flack for letting the kids ride their bikes in the neighborhood, or over to the nearest park about a quarter mile away. It’s ridiculous.
Oh no! Kids can’t ride bikes anymore, it has absolutely nothing to do with reactionary people like you.
I used to do that until the school bullies trashed my bike.
I’m sorry that happened to you. :-(. Get another bike, don’t let the bullies win.
Thanks, but that was 30 years ago. I got over it. And I got a MUCH nicer bike.