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Original poster

To think parents are not teaching any independence?

510 replies

MrBlobbysNuts · 31/05/2026 00:03

A local parent group is in uproar because their precious secondary school children are apparently "too vulnerable" to get the bus before and after school without a phone (phones have been banned from premises entirely)

How is getting a bus for 15 minutes without a phone unsafe? Back in the day we just had ourselves and we survived. Give the kids cash and teach them to stop relying on phones to get around. The world is no more dangerous than it was 40 years ago, if anything it’s much safer!

OP posts:
HelenaWilson · 31/05/2026 00:23

I work at a university. A few years ago a father complained because we hadn't shown his child how to use public transport.

And what had he been doing for the past 18 years?

In my local area a lot of the school kids have one bus option and if they miss it, there isn't another one. This means that that 15 minute bus journey turns into an hour's walk. Not a problem as such, but if my kid took four times longer to get home than normal I'd be worried for all that time.

Wouldn't you just think he or she had missed the bus?

Ohdearnotthisagain · 31/05/2026 00:18

My primary aged kids get the bus and don’t have phones. Just like I didn’t.

takealettermsjones · 31/05/2026 00:17

My kids are not at this age yet, and I walked for 2 hours a day with no phone as a teenager, but I don't think I would like the idea of my kids doing this without a way of contacting me. People forget that "back in the day" there were payphones, which don't really exist any more.

It also depends massively on where you live - in my local area a lot of the school kids have one bus option and if they miss it, there isn't another one. This means that that 15 minute bus journey turns into an hour's walk. Not a problem as such, but if my kid took four times longer to get home than normal I'd be worried for all that time.

Anarchy99 · 31/05/2026 00:15

Gillygallygosh123 · 31/05/2026 00:13

How could they enforce this? They could make the children put their phones in reception during school hours but I can't see how they'd stop them having them out of school hours and building?

I'd not like this rule for my child. At my high school ( over 20 years ago now so maybe things are different ) after school was prime time for any fights or attacks. I'd hate my child to have no way to contact me and being frightened and potentially hurt

Unfortunately parents may have to prepare their children to deal with it fairly quickly.

Gillygallygosh123 · 31/05/2026 00:13

How could they enforce this? They could make the children put their phones in reception during school hours but I can't see how they'd stop them having them out of school hours and building?

I'd not like this rule for my child. At my high school ( over 20 years ago now so maybe things are different ) after school was prime time for any fights or attacks. I'd hate my child to have no way to contact me and being frightened and potentially hurt

Anarchy99 · 31/05/2026 00:13

(Not all parents of course - some have prepared young people ready to launch into the world)

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 31/05/2026 00:13

Fgfgfg · 31/05/2026 00:08

I work at a university. A few years ago a father complained because we hadn't shown his child how to use public transport.

I worked at university many years ago, and a parent complained because her adult child had signed a private rental housing contract and she had signed as his guarantor. She was furious that the university had not proactively informed him that a signed contract would be legally binding.

Anarchy99 · 31/05/2026 00:11

It’s pathetic! People getting babysitters for their NT 14/15 yos for a couple of hours after school, contacting employers on their adult children’s behalf.. it’s endless

Ohfudgeoff · 31/05/2026 00:10

Fgfgfg · 31/05/2026 00:08

I work at a university. A few years ago a father complained because we hadn't shown his child how to use public transport.

Say what now?!

Fgfgfg · 31/05/2026 00:08

I work at a university. A few years ago a father complained because we hadn't shown his child how to use public transport.

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