Parents may get arrested for walking their children to school

[Racket_Man]

Yes you read the title of the post correctly.
At first when I saw this store I though it might be some weird pro free range crap.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/p...fcL&OCID=HPDHP

http://www.fox26houston.com/news/117783912-story

Principle has determined that no matter now CLOSE or far the family lives ALL students MUST either take the bus OR get picked up in an adults car OR face arrest for trespassing on school grounds and the principle has gotten the local law enforcement involved. Even the school district "approves" of this procedure.

Yes only in Texas.

[Tama]

But...why? If the parent is picking up their kid via car aren't they still on school grounds???

[s_stabeler]

since the policy is that parents can't step one foot onto school grounds, I suppose it's merely convenient that this also prevents parents coming to the school to complain in person about how their kids are treated.

Oh, I can understand having some limits on where parents can go- so having a designated pickup point makes some sense- but there's no need for it to be off-campus. tell the parents to park their car- either in a school car-park, or outside school- and (say) come to the front desk to pick their kid up. That has the added bonus of allowing the school to keep a eye on the kids who are waiting to be picked up, in case there is bullying.

[TheHuckster]

I find it disturbing that anyone could bar a parent from even entering property that their child is on 6-7 hours a day, 5 days a week. I understand rules against parents randomly entering classrooms or wandering around the campus, but they should always be allowed to, say, enter the lobby, even if it's to talk with the principle about an issue, or what about if they forgot to bring some important medication or lunch?

Hopefully the fact that not only parents, but the faculty is protesting this by removing themselves from the school might force the administration's hand at doing something about this policy.

[Aragarthiel]

I find it disturbing that anyone could bar a parent from even entering property that their child is on 6-7 hours a day, 5 days a week.

That makes me wonder- wouldn't it technically be kidnapping if a parent couldn't go retrieve their child?

[s_stabeler]

It depends, but generally, no. when you enrol your kid in school, you give them permission, essentially, to keep the kid during the school day plus for reasonable punishment after school. For it to be kidnapping, the school would more-or-less have to refuse to let the kids go home at all.

[Mr Hero]

And if the parent has a disability that prevents them from being able to drive, and therefore must walk with the kid, then what?

[s_stabeler]

I'm not saying I agree with the policy, but the actual restriction is on parents walking onto campus. there's nothing stopping said parent from waiting just off-campus.That, or the kid can take the bus.

[MadMike]

The scary part is that these idiots are educating our kids!

[Kheldarson]

Principle has determined that no matter now CLOSE or far the family lives ALL students MUST either take the bus OR get picked up in an adults car OR face arrest for trespassing on school grounds and the principle has gotten the local law enforcement involved. Even the school district "approves" of this procedure.

Yes only in Texas.

Actually, this is incorrect. Only one parent has had law enforcement called on them, and that was for harassment. The parents are still allowed to walk their kids, but only after the car riders are dismissed.

https://d3jc3ahdjad7x7.cloudfront.ne...wy5aWBDcww.pdf

[HYHYBT]

There needs to be some way where, when the school is being unreasonable, they don't get to blame it on those who object to their unreasonableness. Which is precisely what that otherwise almost empty letter does. They barely even bother pretending to explain anything. (Vague wording about "safety" and "orderly" are completely worthless and count for nothing. NO excuse for not providing a genuine explanation that actually EXPLAINS REASONS at a meaningful level.

Highly unlikely there's a legitimate reason (as in, not only a valid goal but also no other way to achieve it) for not allowing walkers to leave as soon as school is out, but they could at least try to cough one up. What, the school only has doors on one side, and parents drive so quickly and carelessly through the line they're running over others? Hogwash. No, I'm being unfair there, imagining a potential reason for them when it's their job, and should be but shamefully is not their absolute obligation, to provide that before even implementing such a policy.

[Gravekeeper]

Actually, this is incorrect. Only one parent has had law enforcement called on them, and that was for harassment. The parents are still allowed to walk their kids, but only after the car riders are dismissed.

https://d3jc3ahdjad7x7.cloudfront.ne...wy5aWBDcww.pdf

From what I gather from somewhat less screechy sources than Fox/MSN, the bulk of the complaints seem to have more to do with how slow and ponderous the pick up process has become. With people having to sit for an hour or more in a car line to pick up their kids.

[Stormraven]

So, if we're to take the school at their word, it is so hazardous for pedestrians to even think of leaving the school grounds while kids are being picked up that they have enlisted local law enforcement to ensure that no student simply walks off the school property until all automobiles are gone.

What kind of design does this school have in their parking lot, and what kind of cross streets do they have?

I can't imagine any reason to hold students who will be walking off the property while cars line up. None. Not as long as there are sidewalks and crosswalks available.

[Kheldarson]

What kind of design does this school have in their parking lot, and what kind of cross streets do they have?

They're next to a major highway.

[Tama]

This can make some kind of sense, a middle school I used to go to placed its new building essentially on a major highway. I don't know what dummy thought that was a good idea but at least they had the foresight NOT to make it a K-5 school.

The solution is something that is now undoable, that is, not putting your school close enough to a highway that you're enacting rules like this.