23.10.13 Parking and The School Run

The story this week about an inconsiderate mother who caused an obstruction with her car at the school gates was hardly something that shocked.  What I struggled with, though, was the pontificating and sanctimony that accompanied the criticism of the mother.  By all accounts she was an odious twat, but having said that, I have some sympathy because there are far too many obstacles to children being able to get to school - unless they go on a school bus.

If there is the option of a school bus for a child, and it is affordable, then I dare say that offspring will make it to the classroom without undue difficulty.  If, however, there's no such option, or it is so expensive it's a joke, or public transport is inappropriate (almost always the case) or if the parent passes the school on the way to work, then it is quite likely that offspring will be given a lift.  This is where it gets silly, because many schools have no way of receiving kids who arrive by any other means than on foot on on a school bus.

Schools typically have no proper access, turning area, drop off zone or space to accommodate vehicles.  In collusion with the council and local residents, they add to this deficiency by participating in a system that sees local roads smeared with double yellow lines.  Then, the local council and the school collude further to patrol the fucking vicinity at the start and end of the school day, trying to catch parents whose vehicles are necessarily stationary for a minute while kids are dropped off or collected.  Fines are dished out, and pathetic excuses are given as 'reasons' for this action - rather than the money making bollocks, it's about the safety of children.  There are schools in this country where is is nigh on impossible to deliver a kid to or collect a kid from.

Residents are always moaning, but why did they fucking move next to a school?  Probably (initially) for the proximity to the cunt, and the ease with which 'little johnny' could limp to class after getting up ten minutes before the bell.  To moan about cars stopping outside or near their homes is something I suggest they might have envisaged, unless of course they never went to school themselves, and are as thick as the kerbs that cars bump up to let out kids.

Schools have a duty to consider properly and adequately how parents are expected to function and bring children or collect them.  It is no use at all denying any responsibility; obfuscation of the issue is simply not sensible or acceptable.

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