Here’s another take on kids and the Durango School District 9-R.
Thirty plus years ago, our son went to kindergarten at Needham Elementary School. When I went to meet him at the bus stop one afternoon, he wasn’t there. Long story short, he was 6 years old and got on the wrong bus.
After determining he was safe, he got home and we reviewed what bus was his. Later that year, he thought it would be a great idea to walk home after school to Hermosa from Needham. Again, we reviewed the rules and talked about his adventures. At no time did we ever think it a good idea to put the fear of pedophilia and boy-eating bears into his head.
Kids make unintelligent choices sometimes, as do adults. The job of parents in those instances is to make sure their kids are safe, then review the rules and processes. Threatening legal action and taking away someone’s job accomplishes nothing of value.
The boy’s mother may be correct that a “mental evaluation” is in order. I would argue it would not be for the bus driver, however.
And for what it’s worth, our kindergarten student went on to make more bad decisions, more bad choices. He also grew up to be a responsible, caring, intelligent adult, as do most children.
Jane Dunn
Durango
