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Re: More Kids Walk to School as Fuel Costs RiseRe: More Kids Walk to School as Fuel Costs Rise
| Quote: | More Kids Walk to School as Fuel Costs Rise
In California, districts are eliminating busing for thousands of students. Districts in Washington state, Idaho and Maryland and elsewhere are consolidating bus stops, canceling field trips and forcing students to walk longer distances to school to control costs.
Full story http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200808..._ylt=AoGE_YC0De_E2I2iZ0YPH9VQXs8F |
Walking to school is nothing strange and except when absolutely necessary or when safety is compromised, it should not have taken the high costs of fuel to nudge parents and schools into finding it as a viable option.
Most U.S. children have been spoiled anyway. Ask the children who walk 3 miles to school or to run errands daily and they would tell you U.S. children are over privileged.
Most of us from other countries walked to school when we were younger and it didn't make us any less human. It's good exercise, plus you get to associate and communicate with other students enroute to school. Also, you learn your bearings, gain your independence and earn self reliance. You also, learn to appreciate things in life, knowing that all does not have to be handed to you on a silver platter.
Children need to live in reality and high costs of fuel is today's reality, so if they are from homes where they have already been taught proper values, being asked to walk to school regardless of whether it's during a recessionary period or in a buoyant economy shouldn't be a reason to gripe or whine.
Many parents have already cut out events and activities that are fuel-consuming and it doesn't matter how affluent a family is. The reality today is that the U.S. is in recession and those who fail to plan smart will be left dry and hanging should the economy worsen.
In some families, teenagers have taken up jobs to help ease their parent's financial burdens, people are carpooling, taking trains and buses or simply skipping fuel-consuming events, so walking to school is the least of concerns in such scenarios.
So children, get out your walking shoes, put away your X-boxes, forget about watching videos in your parent's cars enroute to school, put away your cell phones so you don't get hit while chatting as you walk, mingle with other children, get your vitamin D from the sun as you walk to school and don't whine about it.
...And when you get home don't forget to do your household chores, since it's cheaper than hiring househelps or having your buck-earning parents clean up after you.
Cxsm
22nd Aug. '08
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