Wednesday, February 28, 2001

To all of those parents who lambasted Kerry FitzPatrick's letter, every student at Starr's Mill feels the same way about the rainy day parenting.

While most of you wrote telling Kerry to ride the bus, how many of you would put your 11- or 12-year-old child on a bus containing 17- and 18-year-old teenagers? Not many.

There is also a huge problem at the South Complex with overcrowded buses and bus shortages. For those parents who want driving teens to ride the bus, how would you feel about the safety of your children when they are forced to sit three people to a seat? Contrary to popular belief, those seats do not seat three comfortably.

Kerry's letter was directed to parents who never bother to drive their kids to school unless it is cold or rainy. These parents do not know the patterns of the traffic, therefore causing backups. Why don't these parents let their children wait in their minivan at the bus stop, instead of causing backups at the school?

Or to the man worried about a reduction in smog if teens would quit driving: If you insist on driving your kids to school, try carpooling with a neighbor or two.

To the man who made a comment about the BMWs and Hondas that kids drive, which will your kid be driving in a few years? Do you plan on driving your 16-year-old to school in the rain? Do you plan on driving them to and from school activities, as well as after school jobs? I doubt it.

The outspoken responses from many of these "adults" was uncalled for, as well as very disrespectful towards all teens. Oh, and to Tweety, follow your own advice and get a life.

Amanda Baumgardner

Fayetteville

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