Schools

Video Speak-Out: When Does Walking to School Become a Hardship?

IMPACT Silver Spring interviewed parents of students at Flora M. Singer Elementary School.

"This is a danger to our children, do you understand?" one Spanish-speaking parent says in a video released earlier this week by nonprofit community organization IMPACT Silver Spring. She is worried that her children will be hit by cars on their way to school.

The video shows parents walking their children to Flora M. Singer Elementary School. The Silver Spring school, located at 2600 Hayden Drive in the McKenny Hills neighborhood, opened its doors for the first time on Aug. 27 for the 2012-2013 school year.

In the video, several parents express their frustration and concern about what they see as an unsafe and inconvenient situation. The solution they seek? Buses.

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One parent shared how walking children to school can negatively impact a family's financial situation by preventing parents from taking morning shifts.

Buses are not provided for students who live within a one-mile radius of the elementary school they attend, according to the Montgomery County Public Schools website.

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Whereas middle school and high school students walk alone or with their peers to school, elementary school students are often considered too young to safely make the trip without adults.

When does walking children to school become a hardship? Tell us what you think in the comments.


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