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Relax, parents. Now you can allow your kids to walk, ride a bike, or take a bus to school, without you or your children getting arrested. The recently-signed
Every Student Succeeds Act contains a section (858) that protects the rights of kids to walk or go out alone. The act was sponsored by Utah senator Mike Lee, who is a supporter of the
Free Range Kids movement, and provides some hope for parents who feel that their kids should be allowed some autonomy to get by own their own.
The inclusion of a section that lets the parents choose what is appropriate is welcome. Though it doesn't replace any state or local laws, such clarification could go help curb the growing trend of cops picking up kids while they play or travel unattended. We've all read these stories, and there is a
juicy selection on the Free Range Kids blog—the mother who
was arrested because her eight-year old son showed some initiative and walked to school after he missed the bus. Or the story of the
Meitiv family of Maryland, whose kids (age 10 and 6) were picked up by cops in three cars and detained for six hours, away from their parents. Why? They were
walking home from the park. (The parents have
since been cleared of all charges).
Comment: This really shows how far we've come as a nanny state that we need an act to protect something so normal, natural and necessary in developing a child's autonomy and independence. Unfortunately this federal law will not supersede state and local laws so police and child services may not play along.
Such a sad state of affairs as the US continues to slide towards complete totalitarianism.