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Is it responsible for a parent to let a 12-year-old child ride the NYC subway alone?
Is it responsible for a parent to let a 12-year-old child ride the NYC subway alone?
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| Yes | 34% | 144 votes | Total: 419 votes | |
| No | 66% | 275 votes |
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Add to FavoritesI won't be the judge and jury and say "no it's not responsible if a parent allows a 12 year old child to ride the NYC subways alone" but I will say that it could be risky to do so if the child has not been raised to ride the subway safely.
Every child is different when it comes to having the maturity needed to travel alone safely in this crazy world we live in now. Children have been snatched from in front of their own homes by criminals intent on hurting them - riding the subway alone poses no bigger threat to a child than walking down the street from his or her home to the ice cream parlor on the end of the block. In fact, it's a bit less given the fact that there are usually crowds of people riding in the subway cars making it harder for a criminal to grab a child and abduct them.
At age 11 , I cared for my four younger siblings while my parents worked. We traveled by bus and subways to the shops and although it was some time ago that we did this, it was no less dangerous to be a child out in the city alone than it is now. My parents had taught me to be vigilant and to avoid talking with strangers and the younger ones knew that too. If anyone approached us and tried to make conversation and I didn't know or trust them , I immediately yelled for help - the person would always take off in a hurry.
We can't be with and protect our children all the time - that's an indisputalble fact. Those parents who try to do so, do a disservice to their child that could have lasting effects on them when they grow up.
A child raised in an overprotective home will trust no one and will become dependent on the parents to protect them throughout their lives. The child never learns the basic tenets of love and trust outside of the family and is often unable to ever form a good and lasting relationship with anyone as an adult.
The decision to allow a 12 year old to travel on the subway alone must come after the child shows that he or she has the maturity to do so. Teaching a child all they need to know about being in a subway station or on the subway itself is key to that child riding safely.
As a parent I would ride in another subway car or hidden behind other people in the same car as my child quite a few times to see how my child handled the responsibility of being alone.. Only after I felt that my child was responsible enough to ride alone and be safe would I let him or her go by themselves
Life is to be lived and life is not without risks. Teaching our children to be aware of danger and how to react to it to protect themselves is the best way to let our children live life fully - it may seem scary but we must do it if we want our children to grow up and live normal lives.
Learn more about this author, Megan O'Brian.
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No
No, it is not responsible for a parent to let a 12-year-old child ride the NYC subway alone! The question is questioning a parent's responsibility. Again, I repeat, it is not responsible for a parent to let a 12-year-old child ride the NYC subway alone. For any person who parents a minor, you have responsibilities. One responsibility of a parent is keeping your child safe within your means. What is safe about letting a 12-year-old child ride the NYC subway alone? Nothing! Of course, no parent can save their child from everything in the world, but a responsible parent saves their child from what they can. Furthermore, why take the risk, why take the chance unless you absolutely have to! Even as an adult it's not always safe to ride the NYC subway alone, so think about how safe it is for a child.
Not letting your child ride a subway alone isn't holding them back from the world or stopping them from growing up, it simply means your being a responsible parent. It's good to allow your child to experience things in life, such as finally letting them go to their first party, not letting them ride the subway alone. Let's be honest here. no 12-year- old is an adult. Your child may be mature, smart and responsible, but are they ready? Are they ready for what might happen, what they might see, etc. This sounds like no big deal and almost nothing to worry about, but think again. No matter where your child is alone, you don't want them to see what may be inappropriate. Although seeing new things can be a learning experience for a child, it can also be damaging.
Speaking of ready, is your child ready emotionally? Sounds like no big deal right? Think again! Subways often become overwhelming with crowds of people, especially in New York. Will your child be able to handle the reckless traffic NYC subways produce? Your child might be alright getting on the subway and taking a seat, but will fear come over your child upon departure because they are alone? What might happen if their parent is running late?
The biggest and most important fact to think about is the fact that this is NYC. A city filled with a high crime rate, high traffic rate, etc. Why throw a 12-year-old child in the middle of this by themselves?
For the people who think, yes it is responsible to let a 12-year-old child ride the NYC subway alone, I bet you will answer no to the question, is it responsible to let a 12-year-old child have sex! Sounds extreme, but it isn't. Don't think too far into that statement. What I mean is children shouldn't do adult things. Riding a subway alone isn't necessarily an adult thing, but no child should have to commute anywhere alone.
I understand parents raise their children different from others. If your answer is yes to this question, that doesn't make you a bad parent or anything of the sort. Some parents are laid back and believe in letting their child experience numerous things. No matter what the case is, if your answer is yes and you would let your 12-year-old child ride on the subway alone, your not being a responsible parent! If you answered yes and simply thought hey it's no big deal, maybe you lack knowledge of the NYC subway. Crimes from robbery to murder have taken place on the NYC subway.
As a parent, you have a responsibility to protect your child within your means, be responsible!
Learn more about this author, Brett D. Battle.
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