To think I should report this to school?

[missboring]

Today when I was walking home, there were a group of 4 or 5 boys probably aged around 10 or 11 walking home from school. At the top of my street is a very busy main road, and they started running across the road to the other side and back again. One of them actually stood in the road and waited until the cars were getting close and then ran back on the path. If I was in one of those cars I would have stopped and gave him a right telling off!

They ran off just I was getting close to them otherwise I would have said something to them. I know which primary school they go to - should I report this to the school? Just think something needs to be done about this, I can only think it's a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

[Flisspaps]

Yes, yes and yes again

[Chottie]

I would have to say something to the school. I would hate to think an accident happened and I had just stood by.......

[ByTheWay1]

YES!

[iamspartapuss]

Yes, I would report.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

YANBU report it. Little idiots.

[MaureenMLove]

Primary!? I really thought you'd say secondary! Either way, tell the school!

[Knowsabitabouteducation]

I think it is worth writing a letter of concern.

If this school's students are playing chicken on the road, the school may be able to alter their PSHE program to talk about road safety, level crossings etc.

If you don't inform them, and the worst happens, you will forever question yourself.

[Sirzy]

Yes tell them, it means the school can do some extra road safety work and hoepfully make these children realise how dangerous their actions are.

[TheMonster]

Yes do.

[nilbyname]

Yes, you must. Little toads.

[balia]

Another yes from me - and/or ring the police if you see them doing it again.

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

I would have said something to them, and I would report to the school.

I have a 9 years old and a 12 year old boy. IME, most boys this age will bot give you a mouthful of abuse or anything like that, but will repond to a calm, firm telling off

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

not not bot

[lovelyladuree]

Interesting how everyone thinks they are the school's responsibility. What about their parents? How about calling the police? It is exactly what someone did when my DS and his mates were having road races on their bikes, and quite right too. After the police officers had given them a good talking to, it was the turn of us parents. No more road races.

[pudding25]

Lovely, I agree with you but she doesn't know the parents and neither would the police if she called them. The best way is to contact the school and let them deal with it.

[drcrab]

Yes report!!

[thebody]

I would do the school even though its not their responsibility and hope they would get the local police to talk to the kids..

We found out our ds2 was crossing the local railway line with mates aged 11, not being silly but just using it as a short cut.

A neighbour recognised them and told us.. I brought her wine and we all as parents blasted the arses off our kids.

Please tell.

[mamamibbo]

i would have told them off, i shouted at some kids messing about on the road,probably shouldnt have done but i couldnt just walk past

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

What worries me is that adults no longer tell children off. They leave it to someone they think has more authority. In this way, children get the message that no-one can tell them what to do, and indirectly, we are reneging on our responsibilty to care for them. I think this is a big societal shift.

Not talking about you, OP, you say they ran before you could say anything.

I also wouldn't advocate putting yourself in any danger.

But I notice how few adults tell pre-teen or teen children off in the street for dangerous or anti-social behaviour

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

And it worries me as a parent, too. If my DSs are messing about and everyone lets them, and I never hear about it, then they are vulnerable

[HecatePropylaea]

How do you report it to the parents if you don't know the children, lovely?

If you report it to the school, they can deal with it as appropriate. But they probably won't be able to identify the children either. So that only leaves a talk about road safety.

(I'm assuming she doesn't know who they are, or she would no doubt have included that.)

[TheReturnOfBridezilla]

When I was about nine a boy in my class was killed playing a game like this. I still remember him, it was tragic.

[HecatePropylaea]

I think it's because so many people think that they'll be putting themselves at risk by doing so.

Whether that's true or not isn't the thing - it's the belief that it's true that is causing the problem.

And the more adults fail to step in when they see teens behaving badly - the more they feel they can.

When I was a kid, I'd stop messing about if an adult was around, cos I knew I'd get told off.

Nowadays, people feel like/fear that they'd just get a mouthful of abuse or worse from the kids, followed up by more of the same from the parents.

So people walk by.

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

Hecate

I'm sure you are right. It's sad though, if people are seeing a group of silly lairy boys as potential attackers. I tell children of - firmly but respectfully, and most of the time they cop on to the fact they are being silly and stop it or apologise.

And I live in an inner-London borough

I am more nervous of girls though