"International Walk to School Day" - October 8

[Miss Mary]

Interesting read on a Monday morning......found this in my local paper:


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Cincinnati Enquirer
Monday, October 6, 2003
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/1 ... 1walk.html


Old-fashioned route to school

Walking school bus: Parent is the 'driver'

By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

MOUNT LOOKOUT [Cincinnati suburb] - It's 8:30 a.m. and six Kilgour Elementary students are waiting at the bus stop in high spirits.

Two latecomers arrive and the group is ready to go. But where's the bus? With an about-face, they walk single file - without prodding - into Kyle and Sean McKillop's back yard, file through a narrow wooden gate, down a worn path behind a shed and onto the sidewalk one street over.

These kids didn't miss the bus. They are the bus - a "walking school bus." Their "driver" and chaperone is Kyle and Sean's dad, Jay McKillop, accompanied by, Orbit, the family dog.

"I'm not a health nut," McKillop said. "I'm more interested in my children having a lifestyle that involves activity."

McKillop's walking school bus is one of five parent-driven routes started at Kilgour this year and among a growing number of similar walk-to-school programs nationally aimed at promoting better health through physical activity.

Childhood obesity is causing nationwide concern. The Surgeon General recently reported that the number of overweight adolescents in the United States has nearly tripled, to 14 percent, in the past 20 years.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only 13 percent of American children walk or ride bikes to school, compared with more than 66 percent 30 years ago.

Kilgour, a K-6 Cincinnati Public school, is thought to be the only school of 79 in the district with a walking school bus program.

Principal Angela Cook said the concept gives children the opportunity to exercise their bodies as well as their minds.

"We're truly serving the whole child by allowing them to do this," Cook said. "I think it also brings us back to the basic humanity of how we want society to run - where students are not just learning in the school building, but are learning in the community."

Kilgour's program, called Walk2School, was inspired by McKillop, who's been walking or bicycling with his boys one-half mile to school nearly every day for three years.

Besides promoting fitness, program goals are to help families reconnect with their communities, reduce traffic congestion and fight pollution.

McKillop seizes the opportunity for yet another benefit - learning.

"Look, there's that orange car," 8-year-old Eva Patterson said.

"What kind of car is that?" McKillop asked.

"It's old because it looks all damaged and you said last time it was from your day," Eva answered.

"It's a Pontiac Firebird," McKillop said with a laugh.

Go by foot

International Walk to School Day is Wednesday. Kilgour Elementary in Mount Lookout is planning special events for this day.

In 1997, the Partnership for a Walkable America established Walk to School Day. The partnership is an alliance of organizations that promotes the health and social benefits of walking.

•  For information, go to http://www.walkableamerica.org

•  To learn more about National Walk to School Day, go to http://www.walktoschool-usa.org

•  For information about the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, contact Shawna Browne at (919) 962-7803 or e-mail shawna_browne@unc.edu

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Learn something new everyday! Had no idea about this. Too bad my community isn't a walking one....very few sidewalks, .....something we just didn't think about when moving out here. I grew up walking to and from school, took many shortcuts on the way home thru cemeteries/woods/creeks, stopped at the local 7/11, then called a pony keg (yep, pretty old here) for a soda and some candy. Sad most kids today do not get to experience this. Now there were downsides to this....like the half year another girl wanted to beat me up. I hurried out the door and took a completely different way home to avoid her. Did that for months! And yes she ended up being a casual friend after that but I never forgot she had wanted to beat me up in the past. Some things you never forget!
Mary

[azskyman]

Interesting Mary.

In fifth grade, I walked about a mile to school, waited for a school bus that then drove me by my street on the way to a grade school 2 miles away.

I have a wealth of stories about that first mile still clanging around in my head...but can honestly say I don't remember a single thing about that bus ride.

azskyman

[Miss Mary]

Steve - LOL!! I had to walk 11.5 miles each way.......naw, j/k. Remember your folks telling you they had to walk for miles each day, after milking the cows first? Or shoveling the driveway? After adding coal to the furnace? I remember those stories from my Dad. We'd just roll our eyes at him, which aggravated him no end. He'd grumble "kids today" just have it too good.....

Truthfully, I walked to and from to K and Grade School, 5 blocks each way, then still walked to our Grade School to catch the HS bus. I wore uniform skirts, brrrr. We were not allowed to wear pants. I remember the walks but not much about the bus rides also! We had a wild driver one year though - you didn't doze on his bus. You had to hold on tight otherwise you'd end up in the aisle and your books strewn all over the bus. He drove fast, took turns fast and took shortcuts too. Something I'm sure would be frowned upon today. That's about the only bus memory I have. I did like the walks, later. Not while you had to venture out on a cold winter morning. But later you sort of missed them. Walking out of your way, past a certain boy's house you "liked", meeting up with your friends along the way. Getting shooed off someone's wall out front, along the sidewalk. Loitering kids..... Ah, the memories....LOL!!!

Mary