It’s time for parents to bear the responsibility for their children

In his June 28 tirade, Allen Forkowitz blasts the Manal-apan Board of Education for its lack of concern for children’s safety, citing one example of a 6-year-old who was dropped off a school bus without a parent to accept custody, and one example of 5- and 6-year-olds having to walk (more than) a football field in the dark in bad weather to a bus stop with no shelter.

His anger should really be directed at lazy parents who won’t take personal responsibility for their own kids’ safety.

If there really is a safety issue, then parents should make it their first priority to be at the bus stop every day to pick up their kids. To handle rare cases when the delays are inevitable, prudent, concerned parents would have arranged, via the ubiquitous cell phone, for a friend to meet the kid.

Mr. Forkowitz would have the role of busing system expanded beyond transportation to include baby-sitting.

Same thing for getting a kid to the shelterless bus stop. Why are callous parents too lazy to drive their kids to the stop and wait until the bus arrives?

I’m fed up with lazy, irresponsible people who expect/demand that Big Brother (government, social agencies, school boards, etc.) take over — at taxpayer expense — their responsibilities. The elementary and high school taxes on my bill already total an obscene 60 percent of the total property tax. We don’t need an added baby-sitting expense.

Mr. Forkowitz is concerned because two years ago no member of the school board could define safety? I’m curious as to what Mr. Forkowitz’s definition of "personal responsibility" is.

For starters it means taking full responsibility, short term and long term, for the outcome of all one’s actions and choices, including breeding.

Mr. Forkowitz goes on to demand only the best teachers. Even if everyone agreed on the definition of best, by whatever definition, there can only be one "best" in any subject, with perhaps one best for older kids and another best for younger kids. But basically, it’s an impossible standard that would be very expensive if it could be met.

My experience is that all too often, those demanding the best from others are less demanding about things that are paid in full directly out of their pocket. I wonder how far Mr. Forkowitz carries the "my kids deserve the best" notion into his life. Does his family live in the very best home, ride (in) the best car, eat only the best food, wear the best clothing, play with only the best toys, etc.?

Thanks for warning us, Allen, that you will be running in the next election.

Raymond Kostanty

Manalapan