Canton Speaks Up: Do You Wait with Your Child at the Bus Stop?

Inspired by a drive up Route 32 earlier this week, during which one Patch editor saw very few unattended students waiting to be picked up for school, Patch asked parents, 'do you walk with your kids to the bus stop?' 

Well, Canton has answered! 

According to the Canton Facebook page, it seems that parents are split on the issue.

Here's what Canton parents had to say: 

• "Nope! And most parents in our neighborhood do not!
  Maybe it would be different if we lived on a main road, but we live in a small community and the bus stop is across the street."
• "I do! I'm honestly less worried about stranger danger than wildlife. The few times I've seen a bear have all been along that route. Plus, I like seeing them off and catching up with my neighbor."
• "I do. Kids in the lower grades have to have someone wait with and for them up until 4th grade."
• "Last I know the Canton requires and adult to be at the bus stop when your child is dropped off through third grade. And I agree, the wildlife was more of a worry when my cildren were that age."
• "Until the child is in 4th grade an adult has to be there to get them on and off. I walked to school in 2nd grade."
• " I went out with my youngest till 4th grade. Now I just keep watch from the house. We're lucky to have our bus stop at our house and I've gotten to know the bus driver over the years as well, so she knows that I'm always around...watching!"
• "Oh my, things have DEFINITELY changed... I grew up in Torrington, & sometimes my parents drove us to St. Peter's School on East Main St. from the north end of town, but other times I walked with my sister. And we moved out of that house when I was 11 so I was younger than that! There is no way that that would happen now. But then again, all of us kids in the neighborhood would also take off on our bikes for the whole day & not come home until dinner. (and with no cell phones either, lol)."
  
• "We do, just because we like too! Someday, he'll be big and too cool for us."
• "I wait every morning for the bus. Our bus stop is one Rt 44 and since we live on a road that is not a town road, it's quite a ways to the stop. I not comfortable with a 12 year old standing alone on a major road at the same time every day. You don't know who is driving down that road. I wait for the bus and then head to work. It works for us."
• "Would never have let a child only in second grade walk to bus stop by themself! Way too young! Don't care what year it was."
• "I walked to kindergarten in west haven in 1977 or so. Came home alone in 2nd grade. Rode my bike all over town in 4th with no cell phone. I would never let my kids do these things but I am not sure if the world is more dangerous or we are more paranoid. I think it is the latter but do not want to risk it."
• " I go to the bus stop because the driver gives our dog a cookie. Matt. He's such a nice guy."
• " My mom told me that she walked to school alone when she was 4 years old in Minneapolis. She was proud of herself but recognized it really was not a great idea for a kid that young (circa 1943) - how times have changed!!"
• " We are required to be there for drop off...but we are seriously in such a small confined neighborhood. The bus stop is 2 doors down & we typically send them running out as bus is coming up the hill."