When I was in kindergarten in 1948 I walked about a half mile to school with other kids. When we came to a cross street the crossing guard was another older student wearing a white belt and a shiny silver badge. Anyone could enter the school unbothered. Some of the older kids harassed us occasionally and once a sweater was swung at me and the zipper opened my head. The school nurse took care of it and my mother was called, end of story.
Today, if the child walks there are retired adults manning the crossings, people worry about a predator forcing children into his car and when you make it to school you must pass security or a metal detector or if you are an adult probably show your passport and clear a pat down.
Bullying even in the form of name calling makes national headlines and a sweater “attack” results in lawsuits and suspension for assault and battery.
Now we are asked to consider armed guards at our schools, don’t you just love progress.
There is hope though, back in 1948 our parents worried about polio.
Was that half-mile walk uphill both ways, too? I am sickened that deranged people like Wayne LaPierre are allowed air-time and that there are so many crazies who truly believe that “the goverment” may be “coming to get them” someday. Happy New Year anyway.