School routes revised to protect kids
The murder case in Hiroshima and in Ibaragi shocked everybody in Japan. According to the Asahi report, the prime minister ordered to make all efforts to prevent such a slaying from happening again, and municipal governments try to revise the school routes.
They will make an effort, I think. However, I find there are two problems. The first is about the busier routes:
The revised school routes will oblige students to use streets with more pedestrian traffic, even if that means they will need more time getting to their schools and homes.
The idea is that the busier routes will make it more difficult for offenders to attack children without being seen, officials said.
But I wonder where the streets with more pedestrians are. These days there are few walking persons near my house in the afternoon. Many people use cars to go everywhere. The road seen by people is the road that cars run along. The children walking on such a road are in danger of being involved in traffic accidents.
First of all, the inhabitants of the town should go outdoors to protect children, I think; otherwise fewer and fewer roads will be safe.
The second problem is the work of Shinagawa Ward:
The ward reorganized the school routes in fiscal 2000 when it abolished school-district boundaries, giving parents and children the freedom to choose the public school they wanted to attend, officials said.
If each child goes to a different school, many children will go back home alone. Thus, I’m afraid, the danger becomes bigger and bigger. If every school gives a child the same quality of education, a child will go to the nearest school and go back home with many friends. Thus, the danger is smaller.
I remember my childhood. In spring, I found tadpoles (otamajyakusi) when I walked home with my friends. Some boys caught crayfish (zarigani). In summer I heard a chorus of cicadas (semi). In autumn I collected red and yellow leaves. In winter I saw the mountains covered with snow. I learned on my school route as much as in my classroom.
I hope everyone will help protect all children on their school routes.
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Comments (1)
Mao
wrote on December 16, 2005:
I think it is a good thing, isn’t it?
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