Hmm, the title and source was rewritten so looks like the links have changed. Here’s where I found the article and the comments are at the bottom: http://www.businessinsider.com/this-first-grade-readiness-checklist-from-1979-shows-just-how-much-times-have-changed-2015-3
OK, got it this time. Thanks!!
Just to throw in my own 2 cents' worth, I walked the 6 blocks to kindergarten by myself at age 5, and the half mile to first grade at age 6 --- that was 56 years ago.
My own boys (late 20th century) were at large over the whole neighborhood ---there was a nice tiny urban-slightly-wild place where they could catch crawdads, build dams and swing on a rope across the stream--- but it did attract police attention during the school day (we were homeschoolers). Several times I had a friendly cop return one of them to the door. I finally printed ID cards for them that stated that they were homeschooled children who were, with parental permission, going to or from an educational activity by themselves. That way they could go to the Public Library or the Hands-On Museum or a music lession, without me having to lead them by the hand.
One or the other of them walked their blind grandfather to the Senior Center for lunch every day, crossing two fairly major streets. They were known and looked on smilingly in the neighborhood.
I guess these days they call them "Free-Range Kids." e just considered it "unremarkable normal childhood."