Wednesday, March 7, 2001

I am not surprised that the letters from Kerry FitzPatrick have generated so many responses. I suspect some readers have reacted as much to her sarcastic tone as to her complaint itself.

According to our state laws and county rules, it is legal for Kerry to drive herself to school, justified or not. We are clearly a nation of people who have chosen the freedom and convenience of individual vehicles to transport ourselves, and our families. We reject the use of public transportation, even when it is readily available and "free" like our taxpayer-funded school buses.

But if Kerry has a right to drive, then surely others have an equal right to drive their children to school if they so choose. Who is, or is not, "spoiled" is very subjective.

This freedom of mobility comes at a huge price, of course. In choosing to drive, Kerry must learn to cope with the inevitable congestion, and the impact of changing conditions like the weather. When bad weather is forecast, I have prepared to leave Peachtree City for work at the airport as early as three hours before my required arrival time, to avoid being late. My system has worked for 20 years, without exception.

Like so many readers, I rode a bus to school until high school graduation. I also worked from age 13 on, and participated in high school sports. I was a college junior when I got my first car, with my own money. It can be done many kids still do it.

Kerry and some of her peers just choose not to because they and their parents prefer the status and flexibility of teenagers having cars. So they have to pay the price. Get over it.

Arriving late for school on rainy days is purely a result of students' poor planning, not other peoples' decisions. Try leaving home 30 minutes earlier. Surely an intelligent, articulate young person like Kerry can learn to take responsibility for her choices, instead of continually blaming others.

R.D. Welch

Peachtree City

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