Schools
Parents Start 'Walking School Bus' For Health, Safety
New initiative at Mark Twain Elementary School encourages parents and children to walk to school.
Parents of students at Mark Twain Elementary School are putting away the car keys and lacing up the walking shoes instead.
In an effort to promote safety and health, groups of kids and parents are choosing to walk to school together in lieu of driving separately. Supporters believe the program, called the "walking school bus," is great for a student's well-being, while easing traffic congestion and pollution near schools.
The organized effort and parental supervision make a waking school bus different from other walks to school.
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Rachel Curran and her kids, Elle, 9, Lane, 7, and Murray, 3, have been a part of a walking school bus for almost three years now. What started out with five families has expanded to eight, and the bus includes nearly 20 kids. Curran said she's noticed the benefits of walking to school.
"The kids burn energy on the way there because most of them aren't just walking," Curran said. "They are like little trained machines, and they can't stop. They sprint from stop to stop on their bikes or scooters."
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Another parent, Jennifer Schaefer, recently worked to involve more families in the program. She organized an event on the International Walk to School Day on Oct. 6 to urge more students to walk. She coordinated walking routes and advertised for the event. The police and fire departments greeted students as they arrived to school by awarding them stickers and certificates.
Principal Karen Smith was happy with the turnout.
"We probably had 75 percent of the school walk," Smith said. "I even think that some parents didn't know about the event, but saw others walking and just joined right in."
Curran encourages parents to establish rules when creating a walking school bus. Her group sets strict meeting and departure times. They can't wait for kids that aren't ready to leave because then the entire group becomes tardy for class.
She also suggests that you make plans for inclement weather. In her group, the parent who is charged with leading the group determines if weather is too bad for walking. In those cases, the parents will drive the kids to school.
If you're interested in starting a walking school bus in your neighborhood, visit walktoschool.org for resources and event ideas.