i am sure your wife would never dream of changing a child's going home routine without informing that child's parents. taking the bus versus walking, IS NOT the point here. the point is that the parents were not informed that their child's normal dismissal routine was being changed on the spot.
Not even. It is unacceptable in this day and age to release 5 year olds period.
Schools generally have before and aftercare for working parents, and I find it unimaginable that a 5 year old would be sent out alone in any circumstance.