SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
The WaPo reports that Danielle and Alexander Meitiv in Montgomery County Maryland say they are being investigated for neglect after letting their 10-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter make a one-mile walk home from a Silver Spring park on Georgia Avenue on a Saturday afternoon. “We wouldn’t have let them do it if we didn’t think they were ready for it,” says Danielle. The Meitivs say they believe in “free-range” parenting, a movement that has been a counterpoint to the hyper-vigilance of “helicopter” parenting, with the idea that children learn self-reliance by being allowed to progressively test limits, make choices and venture out in the world. “The world is actually even safer than when I was a child, and I just want to give them the same freedom and independence that I had — basically an old-fashioned childhood,” says Danielle. “I think it’s absolutely critical for their development — to learn responsibility, to experience the world, to gain confidence and competency.”
On December. 20, Alexander agreed to let the children walk from Woodside Park to their home, a mile south, in an area the family says the children know well. Police picked up the children near the Discovery building, the family said, after someone reported seeing them. Alexander said he had a tense time with police when officers returned his children, asked for his identification and told him about the dangers of the world. The more lasting issue has been with Montgomery County Child Protective Services which showed up a couple of hours later. Although Child Protective Services could not address this specific case they did point to Maryland law, which defines child neglect as failure to provide proper care and supervision of a child. “I think what CPS considered neglect, we felt was an essential part of growing up and maturing,” says Alexander. “We feel we’re being bullied into a point of view about child-rearing that we strongly disagree with.”
(Score: 2) by buswolley on Friday January 16 2015, @06:54PM
Rationality? I don't think you understand how this is supposed to work.
be afraid be afraid the government's out to control you the nanny state is on the rise helicopter parents are controlling you be afraid be afraid also remember to click on the link to support our sponsors
subicular junctures
(Score: 3, Informative) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Friday January 16 2015, @07:25PM
Between 7 and 12 years old, I would often spend 1-6 hours in a Public Library, by myself - at least twice a week. This was a privileged existence - where I was neith a nuisance nor in danger of anything but increased learning.
We live in an insane, panic state - divorced from reality and managed by our irrational fears. These are constantly appealed to, deliberately and pruriently.
A mass of people, busy managing their own anxiety-states through the policing of other people's behavior are in no danger of threatening the massive injustice and inequality of their condition.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by edIII on Saturday January 17 2015, @05:52AM
When I was 9 years old I walked 4 miles total every day to school for that entire school year. We absolutely do live in an insane panic state all the time now if CPS is threatening people now for their kids having a normal childhood.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.