Reader comments at The New York Sun - Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone

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Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone

Submitted by MaryEllen Mehler, Sep 21, 2008 09:43

Thank you very much!! I am glad that other parents still have some common sense these days. In my town of 1200 people in rural South Jersey I am fighting the school board to allow my son to walk home from school which is a block and a half away by himself. Because he is only 9 and in the 3rd grade they feel he is too young. You must be in the 5th grade to have that privilege! Everyday I (or some other designated adult) must appear at school to claim my child from school before he can be released. What happened to promoting more exercise for our children? Shouldn't this be a parental judgment based on the maturity of the child? When did we lose our freedom? Kudos to you for taking that big step. I'm sure your son is or will be extremely grateful for your insight.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Thank you very much!! I am glad that other parents still have some common sense these days. In my town...	MaryEllen Mehler	Sep 21, 2008 09:43
A little scary, yes. What you mention about parents anxieties and fears goes along with how we're a country built... [MORE]	Sheila Devereaux	Aug 29, 2008 18:56
Excellent. Many of those who talk of fear make their living from it. I was riding the train when I... [MORE]	Richard L Walker	Aug 29, 2008 00:19
I only wish my parents had done the same for me when I was a kid. I don't think I... [MORE]	Michelle in SF	Aug 27, 2008 16:01
John Stewart recently gave a speech at some sort of big convention for news media. One of the things he... [MORE]	Thomas	Aug 27, 2008 13:38
WOW! Bravo! My mom even now wont let me take metro through DC...and I'm 17. You are one of the... [MORE]	Ernesto Lopez	Aug 27, 2008 08:33
I just want to congratulate you! You not only allowed your son to have an adventure, you showed trust in... [MORE]	stephanie	Aug 26, 2008 11:45
I am currently a 50-year-old, Manhattanite native (Puerto Rican) that took the train by myself as young as 9 and... [MORE]	Sam Sanchez	Aug 9, 2008 07:19
Way to go. As someone who grew up in New York City (Queens) I was taking buses around the borough... [MORE]	Ben P.	May 16, 2008 14:08
Bravo to him and brava to you! [MORE]	tom	May 5, 2008 21:18

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Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone