Hi Readers — Here’s a nice little story. Nine-year-old Richard “Rashad” Scott came upon a lost, crying 5-year-old and flagged down a police car, in the rain, to help them both. Good work! And how great to read a story that reminds us: Most of us, even youngsters, want to help, not hurt. — Lenore
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But yet again, some of the comments (not the majority, thank goodness) zeroed in on the incompetent adults who’d allow a 3rd grader and a kindergartener out unsupervised. Damn it, can’t we just celebrate the competent actions of this kid? Why the need for automatic blame, especially when NOTHING BAD happened?
Roberta – I think we need to realize that we will never see all parents be free-range or even agree with the philosophy. I take this as a great encouragement that only 3 out of 39 comments were negative. What a great story and most people seem to take it at just that.
That’s a great story, and really great that rather than freak out and make a big deal out of it negatively – the cops and school made a big deal out of it *positively.* I wish they’d figure out that if more kids were shown this kind of attention for good things, they’d be less likely to do bad things later on. (Not that most kids are running amok anyway.)
What a sweet story, and right in my hometown! Love it!
Something like this happened to me a few days ago when my toddler wandered out of the house in hot pursuit of her sister. I’d asked my 5 y o and her best friend from two doors down to stay put while I put on a jacket and got the baby in her sling, but they took off for the backyard without me. First warm spring day, couldn’t really blame them.
The 2 yo followed, but headed down the block for the neighbor’s yard instead of into our yard. I got outside and saw only two girls. My heart skipped a few beats, while I looked for her. But she was easy to spot – she was the little blonde girl being escorted down the street by a sweet but frightened grandmother who had stopped her car in the middle of the street and rushed over to the sidewalk to rescue my little cherub.
A little cherub who was not lost at all, and was just in the midst of explaining to this nice lady that her mom was inside and her sister was playing in the yard, so she wanted to play too and was walking over to the neighbors yard.
I love that a stranger came flying to her rescue, and feel a little sad that even a very small girl can’t walk 30 feet down the sidewalk without being saved by concerned strangers.
My toddler escaped out my front door into the busy street I live on. We live next door to a pizzeria, and Massimo the owner spotted my son and booked it out the door and snatched him out of the street. I wept and hugged Massimo. My husband brought him a case of beer. This world is more full of heroes than predators, be they schoolchildren or pizza guys.
What a great kid, although the comment about how a 3rd grader shouldn’t be out on his own either just made me sigh. That’s plenty old enough to be walking home in most areas, I would think.
Roberta: two out of 39! And they are applauding Richard. Personally, I would not want to point fingers, though, without really knowing what happened (why where the five year old’s parents not at the bus stop, why did Richard’s parents not notice — their might be justified reasons for it), but I do understand that someone would ask these questions. What freaks me out though is the NY rule not to drop kids off unless their parents aren’t at the stop — that’s interfering with family affairs. Here, you probably would have the chance to sign up if you wanted it, and leave it, if you didn’t
So long,
Corinna
They have that rule with kinders here in our district, but it’s only for kinders. The rest of the kids get booted at their stops, regardless. 🙂
i agree- sweet story, but i also agree with the kid who. “”… doesn’t think [what he did] is a big deal. He thinks he was just doing what he was supposed to be doing and helping out a fellow student.”
how sad is it that this is news? i’m glad we’re celebrating the kid for doing the right thing- it sets a good precedent and encourages more decent behavior, but still…this is news?
I just spoke with a representative from the Arizona Child Protective Services and they would initiate an investigation if my five year old was walking down my block alone.
last comment was for the wrong post, sorry