Susan Hyde is a university American literature and composition instructor, freelance writer, wife to Steve and mom to two wonderful boys. She has published stories for Pregnancy Magazine, The American Chesapeake Bulletin, iparenting.com, The Bad Mother Chronicles, Suite101.com, MainePets.com and Raising Maine Magazine. Her homeschooled boys, Aaron and Robby, inspire her daily to be a better teacher and learner. @EducatingMama
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Parental Rights Before and After School?
Oct 3, 2009 07:23 AM
Categories: Activities, Health, Motherhood Town: Harpswell
Adults really do not like being told what to do -- especially when it pertains to the care of their children.
Imagine then, how Janette Kaddo Marion felt when school officials lectured her and her twelve year old son were lectured and her son's bike was impounded after the two of them cycled to his New York middle school on "Bike to Work Day."
While the school insists that the no-riding rule is in place to protect students, the mother contends that it is her right as a parent to get her son to school in whatever fashion she sees fit -- to include a supervised seven mile bike ride.
Those of you who know me can probably guess my take on the matter -- parental rights trump school officials... period. To me, this is a mom who loves her son and the time they spend together. She wasn't sending him out alone. She wasn't sending him on an illegal trek onto a freeway. This was a supervised bike ride before school hours.
What do you think? Do school authorities have the right to keep a parent and child from riding bicycles together to and from school so long as they are riding on legal paths and roadways... or has this school district overstepped its authority?
Imagine then, how Janette Kaddo Marion felt when school officials lectured her and her twelve year old son were lectured and her son's bike was impounded after the two of them cycled to his New York middle school on "Bike to Work Day."
While the school insists that the no-riding rule is in place to protect students, the mother contends that it is her right as a parent to get her son to school in whatever fashion she sees fit -- to include a supervised seven mile bike ride.
Those of you who know me can probably guess my take on the matter -- parental rights trump school officials... period. To me, this is a mom who loves her son and the time they spend together. She wasn't sending him out alone. She wasn't sending him on an illegal trek onto a freeway. This was a supervised bike ride before school hours.
What do you think? Do school authorities have the right to keep a parent and child from riding bicycles together to and from school so long as they are riding on legal paths and roadways... or has this school district overstepped its authority?
LUV2LOSE says,
Susan, yup, I sure do know your stand and I am in agreement. You know what the argument against her would be, don't you? "Some mothers see it fit to leave children locked in cars in casino parking lots while they gamble for five hours." as though a mother who bikes to school with her son is no more capable of making good child care judgments than the one addicted to gambling. It's the govern by pandering to the lowest common denominator. The assumption is that most parents can't determine safe from unsafe so we apply one, oppressive law to all parents "for everybody's own good." Of course, anybody who's read my blogs or comments would know that I'm incensed over all the attention the alleged childhood obesity epidemic is getting and how there's a major push to get certain foods out of schools but meanwhile safe, supervised, FUN exercise such as riding a bike to school is prohibited. Somebody please tell me, how did we ever allow the monkeys to run the circus?
Oct 3, 2009 07:53 AM
SBHFreelance says,
Saving us from ourselves, right? I agree that biking with family is a fabulous way to get exercise... and imagine how much better this 7th grade boy is learning all day long from having gotten that exercise and fresh air in the morning!
Oct 4, 2009 05:08 PM
KathyEliscu says,
Unreal. Susan, I completely agree with you. That has to be one of the stupidest things I've ever heard, and just an obscene intrusion into not only a healthful behavior, but it's NONE OF THE SCHOOL'S BUSINESS. If school officials ever suspect abuse, they are obligated to report suspicion. In this case, I think the parent should report the school! My oldest brother (now in Heaven - love you, Bob!) was into bicycling and exercise long before it became a fad, and especially because he had poor eyesight for contact sports, he was a rider - rode his bike miles and miles to school every day for years. He was always trim and in good health. But back to the item you've brought to our attention:does the school system think it's safer to ride a subway in NY? Just how are kids to be transported? Man, this is one for the record.
Oct 3, 2009 12:01 PM
SBHFreelance says,
Bicycling really is such a great sport... whether around the neighborhood, for longer distances on the road or racing.
Oct 4, 2009 05:10 PM
Keli_scrap says,
I'm really almost speechless about this. In fact, I can't see any argument the school has at all. I hope there was a huge backlash, and I imagine the school officials responsible for the impounding of the boy's bike feel humiliated now. At least, I hope they have common sense in hindsight and can see the absurdity of their actions.
Oct 3, 2009 09:12 PM
NaptimeNotes says,
This must be a rule due to someone getting hurt on the way to school and being able to sue the school? Amazing what we have turned this country into with all the ridiculous lawsuits! Pretty soon we won't be able to get out of bed in the morning!
Oct 4, 2009 11:14 AM
SBHFreelance says,
I hope that mom can get more families to bike together to school in protest... !
Oct 4, 2009 05:10 PM
Girl Talk says,
Honestly - that's just sad, ridiculous and pathetic... I've got to hope that they have some regrets about how the situation was handled.
Oct 4, 2009 05:17 PM
Happy Mom says,
Wow, this is just insane! How dare a mother encourage healthy living with her child in their private family time. What was she thinking not checking with mother dept. of ed first!!?? Don't get me started!!
Oct 5, 2009 08:42 AM
Mama Bird
Ann Murray says,
I wonder if the school once got sued over something regarding a student and a bike? This is the only reason I can imagine for such an overreaching, anti-exercise and warped law as this. But the fact that it is a law is the thing--so since it's a rule, it either needs to be followed or changed. I think that woman needs to change it! (and change the legal system so that the schools can't get sued if someone gets hurt on their bike from their own lack of common sense.)
Oct 9, 2009 04:41 PM
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