Comments on: Let Your Nine-Year Old Ride The New York Subway Alone? http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/ news and commentary from a conservative perspective Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:48:04 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: serfer62 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-284842 serfer62 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:02:48 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-284842 Jees the things we took for granted then. I bycled for 10s of miles alone before high school. Carried my first rifle on the bus and no one took notice. Even took a Greyhound 100 miles out alone with the rifle, alone. Walked home at 0300 from a parttime job alone. Jees the things we took for granted then. I bycled for 10s of miles alone before high school. Carried my first rifle on the bus and no one took notice. Even took a Greyhound 100 miles out alone with the rifle, alone. Walked home at 0300 from a parttime job alone.

]]> By: Andy http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-281469 Andy Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:41:38 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-281469 In Berlin, kids as young as kindergarteners often ride the public buses and subways on their own. A couple of years ago, after showing the way to our 6 and 8 year old, they would ride the bus 3km to school. Sometimes after school, they would ride another klick furter to the "village" center to shop at Woolworth, then ride back home. On nice days, they would ride their bikes. Like that term "helicopter parent" in that the first few runs, I would hover out of sight and unknown to them to ensure they made it ok. The following Spring, there was a neighborhood boy that was murdered by a local teenager. Most parents, like us, tightened the reins, but after a few weeks, things went back to normal. Now that we live in OKC, we tried riding bikes to school but gave up due to a lack of sidewalks and rural roads w/o shoulders and traffic running 45 mph. The schools don't even have bike racks. Since we have a creek nearby, the boys love to tramp the woods and explore the creek. Again, I hovered a time or two and they did ok and let them go on their own. However, they are bound by the buddy system and they take a cell phone with them just in case. Compared to my experience, I was a free spirit. Spending the summer before Kindergarten, I wandered all over Fairfield, AL in '67. In retrospect, not a good idea under Jim Crow. Even in the big city of Detroit, as a 3rd/4th grader I'd walk to the grocery store blocks away or to the pond by the railroad tracks looking for whatever I could find. Sometimes alone, other times with a friend or two. From there, we'd even jump on a passing slow train for block or two and jump off by the library and vice versa. I'd cringe to think of the boys doing the same nowadays, so I can't even regale them with those stories, lest they get any ideas. :( In Berlin, kids as young as kindergarteners often ride the public buses and subways on their own. A couple of years ago, after showing the way to our 6 and 8 year old, they would ride the bus 3km to school. Sometimes after school, they would ride another klick furter to the “village” center to shop at Woolworth, then ride back home. On nice days, they would ride their bikes.

Like that term “helicopter parent” in that the first few runs, I would hover out of sight and unknown to them to ensure they made it ok. The following Spring, there was a neighborhood boy that was murdered by a local teenager. Most parents, like us, tightened the reins, but after a few weeks, things went back to normal.

Now that we live in OKC, we tried riding bikes to school but gave up due to a lack of sidewalks and rural roads w/o shoulders and traffic running 45 mph. The schools don’t even have bike racks. Since we have a creek nearby, the boys love to tramp the woods and explore the creek. Again, I hovered a time or two and they did ok and let them go on their own. However, they are bound by the buddy system and they take a cell phone with them just in case.

Compared to my experience, I was a free spirit. Spending the summer before Kindergarten, I wandered all over Fairfield, AL in ‘67. In retrospect, not a good idea under Jim Crow.

Even in the big city of Detroit, as a 3rd/4th grader I’d walk to the grocery store blocks away or to the pond by the railroad tracks looking for whatever I could find. Sometimes alone, other times with a friend or two. From there, we’d even jump on a passing slow train for block or two and jump off by the library and vice versa.

I’d cringe to think of the boys doing the same nowadays, so I can’t even regale them with those stories, lest they get any ideas. :(

]]> By: BIG RED PLANET » Blog Archive » Let Your Nine-Year Old Ride The New York Subway Alone? http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-280506 BIG RED PLANET » Blog Archive » Let Your Nine-Year Old Ride The New York Subway Alone? Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:06:20 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-280506 [...] Read this post » [...] [...] Read this post » [...]

]]> By: jwm http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-280329 jwm Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:17:37 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-280329 When I was 9 or 10, I left the house in the morning and was back for dinner. I didn't adults to tell me how to spend the day or what transportation I used. Today's kids are driven everywhere, demand that they be entertained, often complaining about how bored they are and in a crisis are helpless since they have never learned to be self reliant. I was riding the NYC subway last week with my daughter and felt safer there than when I ride the BART in the Bay Area. For what it's worth, we were panhandled twice the whole time we were there. I get panhandled at least 4 times from the BART station to my office (2 blocks) everyday, mostly by the same people who've been bumming for change for years. It is the parent's responsibility to raise their kids to become self reliant, most don't. When I was 9 or 10, I left the house in the morning and was back for dinner. I didn’t adults to tell me how to spend the day or what transportation I used. Today’s kids are driven everywhere, demand that they be entertained, often complaining about how bored they are and in a crisis are helpless since they have never learned to be self reliant. I was riding the NYC subway last week with my daughter and felt safer there than when I ride the BART in the Bay Area. For what it’s worth, we were panhandled twice the whole time we were there. I get panhandled at least 4 times from the BART station to my office (2 blocks) everyday, mostly by the same people who’ve been bumming for change for years. It is the parent’s responsibility to raise their kids to become self reliant, most don’t.

]]> By: 11 is too young for Birth Control Pills: Age Inappropriateness in America « Beagle Scout http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-280080 11 is too young for Birth Control Pills: Age Inappropriateness in America « Beagle Scout Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:12:24 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-280080 [...] walks out of sight down the street. In the morning, at school bus stops all over the country the cars pull up and idle while the children wait at the stop for the bus. When the bus comes and the children get on the parents drive off. In the afternoon, children leave [...] [...] walks out of sight down the street. In the morning, at school bus stops all over the country the cars pull up and idle while the children wait at the stop for the bus. When the bus comes and the children get on the parents drive off. In the afternoon, children leave [...]

]]> By: iowavette http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279887 iowavette Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:42:37 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279887 My mother didn't drive so we HAD to either walk or ride our bikes. We went to the little corner store for Mom which was about a mile away. We walked to McClellan Air Force Base for the 15 cent Saturday morning cartoons and Randolph Scott movies, which was a little further, and we'd walk to the Coronet to see first runs which was further still. Then we moved several times around Northern California but continued to ride bikes everywhere. I didn't have children but know for a fact that I wouldn't mimic my neighbors and drive their kids not even a block to wait for the school bus! There are criminals everywhere but where I live now is actually heaven in most regards, especially crime. Neighbors leave their garage doors up so frequently we're embarrassed to call them, although we invariably end up telling them if the door remains up after dusk. I will say this area is very similar to a rural area in California we lived for a couple of years. The only people we see riding bikes here are sports or fitness enthusiasts. Kids don't ride their bikes to school anymore. My mother didn’t drive so we HAD to either walk or ride our bikes. We went to the little corner store for Mom which was about a mile away. We walked to McClellan Air Force Base for the 15 cent Saturday morning cartoons and Randolph Scott movies, which was a little further, and we’d walk to the Coronet to see first runs which was further still. Then we moved several times around Northern California but continued to ride bikes everywhere. I didn’t have children but know for a fact that I wouldn’t mimic my neighbors and drive their kids not even a block to wait for the school bus! There are criminals everywhere but where I live now is actually heaven in most regards, especially crime. Neighbors leave their garage doors up so frequently we’re embarrassed to call them, although we invariably end up telling them if the door remains up after dusk. I will say this area is very similar to a rural area in California we lived for a couple of years. The only people we see riding bikes here are sports or fitness enthusiasts. Kids don’t ride their bikes to school anymore.

]]> By: AuntiEm http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279604 AuntiEm Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:31:28 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279604 And then we have the mother in my area who took the four year old along to commit the armed robbery at a convenience store. And then we have the mother in my area who took the four year old along to commit the armed robbery at a convenience store.

]]> By: walterc http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279553 walterc Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:37:14 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279553 <blockquote>inviolet said: She sounds really impatient with mothering to me - wants to rush the process. </blockquote> I get the same impression with my kids. Seems like parenthood is big inconvenience to them. Not sure where I went wrong in raising them. But on the other hand, they are so over protective my grandchildren aren't even allowed to spend time at a friends house out of fear the kids father is a pervert. Although they (our children) are very independent. Sometimes my wife says we made them too independent so much so that they don't need us. All of our daughters seemed to have married mommas boys though. What a bunch of pansies. Drives me crazy. When I was growing up on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, if a kid brought a gun to school (as many did in the fall) it meant they were going hunting on the way home. I couldn't because I rode the bus and the district had some kind of rule about guns on buses. But as soon as I got off the bus, grab my 410 and hit the fields.

inviolet said: She sounds really impatient with mothering to me – wants to rush the process.

I get the same impression with my kids. Seems like parenthood is big inconvenience to them. Not sure where I went wrong in raising them. But on the other hand, they are so over protective my grandchildren aren’t even allowed to spend time at a friends house out of fear the kids father is a pervert.

Although they (our children) are very independent. Sometimes my wife says we made them too independent so much so that they don’t need us. All of our daughters seemed to have married mommas boys though. What a bunch of pansies.

Drives me crazy.

When I was growing up on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, if a kid brought a gun to school (as many did in the fall) it meant they were going hunting on the way home. I couldn’t because I rode the bus and the district had some kind of rule about guns on buses. But as soon as I got off the bus, grab my 410 and hit the fields.

]]> By: dpt http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279494 dpt Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:06:39 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279494 I make it to Tokyo a couple time a year for business, and I find it interesting to see young school children riding the subways and trains alone. Different country, different place... I make it to Tokyo a couple time a year for business, and I find it interesting to see young school children riding the subways and trains alone. Different country, different place…

]]> By: terrig http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279446 terrig Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:33:35 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279446 I took my daughter to a DS clinic yesterday and started talking about growing up with the nurse who was my age. We both seemed to have similar childhoods like many of you where we'd be outside all summer playing baseball and riding bikes into town (a rinky dink town by NYC standards) going to the DQ, etc. Then I was telling her how my folks let go drive at 16 with a bunch of other kids up to Alpine Valley, WI, for concerts which was 4 hours away and to Rosemont Horizon which was 2 all the time and how I can't fathom letting my 3 year old do the same in 13 years. It's a different time unfortunately and I don't think a 9 y/o needs to be on a subway by his or herself. We didn't have bike helmets, child safety seats (my mom had something when I was two to keep me out of the way), and all the safety gadgets that are on my cabinets. I took my daughter to a DS clinic yesterday and started talking about growing up with the nurse who was my age. We both seemed to have similar childhoods like many of you where we’d be outside all summer playing baseball and riding bikes into town (a rinky dink town by NYC standards) going to the DQ, etc. Then I was telling her how my folks let go drive at 16 with a bunch of other kids up to Alpine Valley, WI, for concerts which was 4 hours away and to Rosemont Horizon which was 2 all the time and how I can’t fathom letting my 3 year old do the same in 13 years.
It’s a different time unfortunately and I don’t think a 9 y/o needs to be on a subway by his or herself.
We didn’t have bike helmets, child safety seats (my mom had something when I was two to keep me out of the way), and all the safety gadgets that are on my cabinets.

]]> By: pressto http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279439 pressto Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:28:57 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279439 I also rode the bus and biked all over the place starting at 7 or 8. Nothing has changed since that time except for the media hype about abductions that has scared parents into believing they were common place. Check the numbers and while they state it has gone down in the last few years, it was actually steady for 20 years previously. I also rode the bus and biked all over the place starting at 7 or 8. Nothing has changed since that time except for the media hype about abductions that has scared parents into believing they were common place. Check the numbers and while they state it has gone down in the last few years, it was actually steady for 20 years previously.

]]> By: inviolet http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279416 inviolet Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:15:30 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279416 <blockquote>Earle On April 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm said: I can’t believe this line: “No, I did not give him a cell phone. Didn’t want to lose it.” She doesn’t trust him with a cell phone, but somehow he’ll get home ok?</blockquote> That line took my breath away too. Reminds me of the line in Flightplan when the woman loses her daughter on the plane and a passenger looking on snarks, "At least she didn't lose her BlackBerry." I think children should be taught to be independent. By <em><strong>degrees</strong></em>. Not nine years old throw-you-on-a-dangerous-subway-in-a-big-city. That's just stupid. She sounds really impatient with mothering to me - wants to rush the process. And she's incredibly lucky.

Earle On April 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm said: I can’t believe this line:
“No, I did not give him a cell phone. Didn’t want to lose it.”
She doesn’t trust him with a cell phone, but somehow he’ll get home ok?

That line took my breath away too. Reminds me of the line in Flightplan when the woman loses her daughter on the plane and a passenger looking on snarks, “At least she didn’t lose her BlackBerry.”

I think children should be taught to be independent. By degrees. Not nine years old throw-you-on-a-dangerous-subway-in-a-big-city. That’s just stupid. She sounds really impatient with mothering to me – wants to rush the process. And she’s incredibly lucky.

]]> By: steveegg http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279400 steveegg Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:03:59 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279400 Sooner or later, you have to let the kids fly. Since I turned pro wanderer when I was 8, I'm probably the wrong person to ask (after all, very-good pros are always the worst coaches). Sooner or later, you have to let the kids fly. Since I turned pro wanderer when I was 8, I’m probably the wrong person to ask (after all, very-good pros are always the worst coaches).

]]> By: No Runny Eggs » Blog Archive » The Morning Scramble - 4/4/2008 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279391 No Runny Eggs » Blog Archive » The Morning Scramble - 4/4/2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:54:45 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279391 [...] and shut down the blog. - Jib gets to the heart of the problem of the Gorebal Warming acolytes. - See-Dub the super-sub asks, “Is it safe?” Take it from a wanderer who turned pro at 8, it’s so safe, you [...] [...] and shut down the blog. – Jib gets to the heart of the problem of the Gorebal Warming acolytes. – See-Dub the super-sub asks, “Is it safe?” Take it from a wanderer who turned pro at 8, it’s so safe, you [...]

]]> By: RaisedRight http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-279388 RaisedRight Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:54:07 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/let-your-nine-year-old-ride-the-new-york-subway-alone/#comment-279388 I agree with the author on the point of children being over-protected these days. Parents who pay attention to their kids do seem to obsess over every skinned knee like their child is about to bleed to death. The street in Illinois where I grew up was nice. There were lots of kids and it had a cul-de-sac so it was pretty safe. The neighborhood kids would play in the streets until it got too dark and our parents called us home (games like tag and kick the can and ghosts in the graveyard.) We would ride around trhe neighborhoos and walk to the park on our own. And I'm not talking about a bygone era, I was born in '82. When I was in junior high a family moved in next door with three little children (youngest still in diapers, oldest about 6) and the second that 6-year-old would wander out of her mom's sight the mom would step out onto the porch and start shrieking, "Betsy!" She panicked. And Betsy was a nervous girl, I have to think there's a connection. However, although I do think parents are too over-protective, I still think that riding the subway alone at 9 is a bit much. Just because she wants to teach her child strength and independence does not mean the subway is the only option. The was no subway in Springfield, but I never took the bus home alone and I didn't end up a wimp. I think there has to be some middle ground. I agree with the author on the point of children being over-protected these days. Parents who pay attention to their kids do seem to obsess over every skinned knee like their child is about to bleed to death.

The street in Illinois where I grew up was nice. There were lots of kids and it had a cul-de-sac so it was pretty safe. The neighborhood kids would play in the streets until it got too dark and our parents called us home (games like tag and kick the can and ghosts in the graveyard.) We would ride around trhe neighborhoos and walk to the park on our own. And I’m not talking about a bygone era, I was born in ‘82.

When I was in junior high a family moved in next door with three little children (youngest still in diapers, oldest about 6) and the second that 6-year-old would wander out of her mom’s sight the mom would step out onto the porch and start shrieking, “Betsy!” She panicked. And Betsy was a nervous girl, I have to think there’s a connection.

However, although I do think parents are too over-protective, I still think that riding the subway alone at 9 is a bit much. Just because she wants to teach her child strength and independence does not mean the subway is the only option. The was no subway in Springfield, but I never took the bus home alone and I didn’t end up a wimp. I think there has to be some middle ground.

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