Father Loses 2 Young Children In Tornado
Why It's Hard To Get Along With Your In-Laws
Dad Reprimanded for Letting Daughter Walk to Bus Stop
Filed under: In The News, Weird But True
The driver on the bus says ... that's dangerous! Credit: Zemlinki!, Flickr
Why did the 7-year-old cross the road?
Why, to get to the other side, of course -- but the punchline isn't so funny to some officials in one quiet English village.
London's Daily Mail reports that Mark McCullough's decision to allow his daughter, Isabelle, 7, to cross the road in front of their home in Glentham, England, and walk 45 yards to catch the school bus so alarmed the Lincolnshire County Council that he and his partner, Natasha Fegan, were threatened with action from child protective services.
McCullough tells the Daily Mail that he and his family live on what he describes as a "quiet country road," and that he isn't interested in "wrapping his child up in cotton wool."
The schoolgirl's parents allow her to walk the distance from her front door to the school bus stop on her own, both coming and going to school. She also crosses a two-lane road. The bus driver who ferries her to and from Normanby by Spital Primary School felt compelled to walk the child across the road when he dropped her off, thus leaving his other charges alone in the still-running vehicle.
He also alerted school officials, who in turn notified the Lincolnshire County Council. That group sent McCullough and Fegan a letter calling the matter a "child protection issue," and stating that the two could face action from child services if they continued to let the girl walk alone.
That's not all -- the letter also noted that Isabelle was sent to school without a sweater, and that the weather had been nippy that day.
McCullough, a 32-year-old father of five, finds the whole thing ridiculous.
"Lincolnshire County Council says it is a busy road, but that is ridiculous, it is just a country lane," he tells the Daily Mail. "We need to teach our kids to survive on their own because it's a big world out there and they need to be able to look out for themselves."
He tells the newspaper he had considerable freedom as a boy, when he was the same age as his daughter.
Debbie Barnes, Lincolnshire's assistant director of children's services, tells the Daily Mail that guidelines issued by Isabelle's school state that kids under the age of 8 should be accompanied by an adult, but conceded that individual circumstances do vary and that it was up to parents to decide what's best for their child.
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ReaderComments (Page 3 of 6)
9-15-2010 @ 10:38AM
Bill said...O' Hell why don't we just force that child to quit school get a job, move out and find her own place in life? Hell if you want to teach them independence that would be the way to go! Lazy 7 yr, old child anyway still freeloading off daddy What is wrong with the parents these days still letting their 7 yr. old daughter living at home?
9-15-2010 @ 12:00PM
SNAZZY said...Ever hear of Adam Walsh, Shawn Hornbeck, Sandra Cantu, Elizabeth Smart, Jessica, Maddy, Chelsea King, Natalie Holloway and all the rest of the innocent children snatched in a split second. Many don't come back. JMO
9-15-2010 @ 8:06AM
prentice said...In London - world war II, at 7, early dawn, I was lining up at the corner bakery after a night in an air raid shelt....at 9, I was walking down steps to a shelter a mile underground- the Deep Shelter- because of the German Rockets attacking us--I was with many strangers - my mum rode the lift because she was pregnant...
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9-15-2010 @ 8:27AM
Terry said...Yes but did you have to cross a street without your sweater on?
9-15-2010 @ 8:07AM
MARRI said...I HAD THE MOST WONDERFUL MOTHER IN THE WORLD. SHE SIMPLY ADORED HER TWO CHILDREN MYSELF AND MY SISTER. THIS WOMEN WOULD NOT LET ME OR MY SISTER WALK IN FRONT OF OUR HOME WITHOUT A POLICE ESCORT....HER!!! THANK GOD FOR THIS. IF NOT, WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HER CHILDREN. WE ARE ALIVE AND HEALTHY AND STRONG BECAUSE OF THIS DEAR MOTHERS LOVE FOR HER CHILDREN. AND I AM THE SAME WAY WITH MINE AND HOPE TO INSTILL THE SAME IN MY CHILDREN AND I KNOW THEY WILL. THIS IS NOT OVER PROTECTING, IT IS SIMPLY BEING A MOTHER. REMEMBER AMBER ALERT!!! THE CHILD WAS SNATCH RIGHT OFF HER BIKE NO MORE THAN 50 YARDS AWAY FROM HER HOUSE. WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE PARENTS THINKING? AND THE CHILD WAS NEVER FOUND AGAIN, TILL THIS VERY DAY.
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9-15-2010 @ 8:32AM
Sharon said...So, I have a couple of thoughts. First off I think it answers itself because they said "suggested", but it's up to the parents/ guardians. Obviously, like most, I wonder what was said or done to the busdriver... thank you for leaving that morsel in the information (left kids unattended on a running bus).
What about "walkers"? When I was in Kindergarten I was a walker. I had to walk down 2 blocks (the equivalent of 3 or 4, there was a field at the end of the second) and then a fence that I'd walk on the other side of the equivalence of another block to the school... The school was on the corner of the next street so I was on the backside. At the beginning of the year my mom walked with me the entire way, then to the fence, then to the field, then the stop sign, then just across the street. Then I did it on my own, she would watch me cross the side street (we lived at the corner of Main St. and another road, so I would cross in front of our house). I am sure she stopped watching after I did it a couple of times. I probably would not let my kids do this now, because of the distance and how sparse the block was at that time.
[BTW I doubt there are more weirdos, we just know about them now. Remember also the registered sex offenders had to do something BEFORE they were caught to get that record, and often they abuse more than 1 before being caught, but they also usually know the children they abuse.]
You have to be vigilant, but not stupid! 45 yards and crossing a road, unless it is a busy road shouldn't probably be a question. I do however think the fact the man has 5 children says nothing about the quality of father he is. We are just reading an article, many of us in the USA while the story is from England, so we don't know the location, etc.
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9-15-2010 @ 8:37AM
Phyllis said...What in the world is this WORLD coming to. When I was 11 I was walking 5 miles to get to Jr. High school. Unless it rained, then my mom drove us. I grew up knowing when it was cold enough to wear a sweater or not. Maybe the girl is used to cold and likes it. Maybe she has a voice and her parents let her talk. Maybe she wanted to walk across the street by herself to show mom and dad she could do it "all by herself". Our kids are growing up so fast and we have to keep up with it. My grand kids are just bursting out with knowledge and freedom to learn yet we still have to teach them right from wrong. Seems like Dad is doing a good job, not wanting to leave the other kids in the car. Sounds like he had his hand full and that he did just fine.
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9-15-2010 @ 8:40AM
suherr said...What a shame as if there aren't real abuse cases being neglected because a couple of people thought this rose to a level of abuse. Children are being chained in basements and sheds, they are being starved and neglected, children are living in horrific situations, this child lives with two parents who send her to school. Look around people you ought be more concerned with what hidden in a child's life than what we see openly. Neglect and abuse of the innocent is usually hidden behind closed doors. Personally I would have made a different choice for my children but it isn't my business.
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9-15-2010 @ 9:00AM
m2rdj said...Nice. Love It!!!
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9-15-2010 @ 9:23AM
mary said...I THINK HE SHOULD WALK HER TO THE BUS WHERE I LIVE A
6 YEAR OLDS MOTHER LET HER DAUGHTER WALK TO THE END OF HER DRIVEWAY TO CATCH THE BUS WHILE SHE STOOD IN THE DOOR WATCHING JUST A FEW FEET AWAY
ON A COUNTRY ROAD A MAN STOPPED HIS TRUCK SNATCHED HER AS HER MOTHER WATCHED THEY FOUND HER 2 DAYS LATER DEAD , RAPED, AND STUFFED IN A CEMENT ROAD DRAIN I TOOK MY KID TO THE BUS STOP AND PICKED THEM UP THERE EVERY DAY UNTILL THEY COULD DRIVE THERE SELF TO SCHOOL... SOOOOOO SAD
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9-15-2010 @ 9:59AM
tricia said...When I was 4 years old I was placed in foster care, (let's not get sarcastic about that!) When I entered kindergarden my foster mother took me to school for like a week, after that I was on my own. I did not see any other kids on the street that I could walk with because I was new to the neighborhood. One day when I was walking past my neighbors house I crossed the alley and this man was standing out there and he yelled to me "hey little girl" then he pulled out his penis. I ran like I had never ran before and he yelled after me something about "don't cry little girl!". For weeks I walked on the opposite side of the street and looked for him I was terrified. I never told my foster mom because I knew she didn't care, to her I was just a monthly check. Anywho, what if a stranger was on that country road looking for a "little girl?" just because they live on a "country road" doesn't make them invisible!!!!
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9-15-2010 @ 9:13AM
patty said...ok.. so the neglect here is she had to cross a quiet country road.. and risk what. .getting run over by a sheep? walk 45 yards.. that's not even half the length of a football field.. and she wasn't wearing a sweater.. hmmm.. i have 2 kids.. and when they were 7/8.. it was "put on a sweater".. "yeah, yeah".. and out the door they go without it.. generally kids by the age of 7 know when they are cold and know how to fix that little problem.
don't school busses in england have lights and stop signs? aren't other cars required to stop and wait till the flashing lights stop and the bus is in motion? shouldn't the bus driver be reprimanded for leaving a bus full of kids to go and poke his nose into his own preconceived notions that this child was being neglected?
when my kids were her age, they walked to school.. omg!. at least 100 yards.. even in the winter!.. they walked home for lunch and back!.. AND they had to cross a road to get there!!!... unsupervised!!..and this was only 10-11 years ago.. lock me up!... i'm amazed my kids survived the neglect!!... go after real abusive parents and leave these people alone.
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9-15-2010 @ 9:14AM
Angiebaby said...I completely support the father's decision and find criminal charges to be unwarranted.
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9-15-2010 @ 9:21AM
MARY said...INDEPENDANCE IS A GOOD THING BUT TO WHAT EXTENT
HOW DO YOU TEACH A CHILD OF THAT AGE TO PROTECT THEM SELVES FROM PREDITORS MUCH LARGER THAN THEM
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9-15-2010 @ 9:27AM
Denise said...My two children were each given a code word at a young age, due to a murderous ex-husband, and taught to stay away from cars, and, the ever popular 'don't talk to strangers'.
9-15-2010 @ 9:30AM
szb said...Yes, the standard justification for all crazy over protective actions, “a predator could get them”. If a child is not safe 45 yards from their home (which is obviously within sight and hearing distance), they are not safe anywhere. I guess the only solution would be to keep the childin a locked room, but child protective services will have a problem with that too.
Is there a risk the child could be snatched, yes, but it is probably one in million. There is a much greater risk that the child will have trouble functioning in the real world if they are never allowed to develop self reliance and independence. Allowing a 7 year old to cross a country lane is an age appropriated step in that development.
9-15-2010 @ 9:16AM
szb said...When I was a kid, most parents walked their kids to the bus stop on the first day of kindergarten, took some pictures and never went to the bus stop a again. The world has changed in 30 years and not for the better.
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9-15-2010 @ 9:21AM
Linnie said...It's funny how they are over in England. Over here in America, the bus would NEVER be allowed to be across a street like that. The bus must be on the same side as the child standing. At least in New York that's the law. The bus driver should be reprimanded for allowing a child to cross a street such as the awful country road :-/ uugh
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9-15-2010 @ 9:24AM
joann s. said...when i was in grade school, i walked 3 blocks to school....when i was in junior high school , i walked a little over a mile to school....when i was in high school, i walked about 6 blocks to school.......school buses were rare and only in distant rural areas....
why are our kids bussed anyway.....look at the tax money we would save if we went back to kids going to schools close to their homes and not being bussed across town.....
another issue....we didnt have to carry tons of books back and forth to home......we did most of our homework in the classroom.....our children of today have so much homework they hardly have time to play or interact with their families....what is wrong with this picture....??
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9-15-2010 @ 9:40AM
Carson said...As for why are kids bussed anyway...not every kid lives within a short walking distance to a school. If I had walked to my elementary school, I would have been walking about 6 miles one way. If I had walked to my high school, it would have been around 17 miles. Yeah, not a walk anyone wants to do, much less a kid. Don't assume that everyone lives as close to their school as you did. In city or town propers, maybe it's possible. But for people who live in rural areas, like the father in this article says they do, it isn't feasible.