The kid was only required to do what every other kid in the school district must do if they live within 1 1/2 miles of the school.
What makes this mother's kid so special. If attacks are happeny, why aren't they happening to all the other kids who already walk to school?
AGAIN, you miss the point. the walking is NOT THE POINT, the point is a 5 year old's method of transport home was altered by someone OTHER THAN HIS PARENTS and unbeknownst to them. THAT is wrong. you can talk til you are blue about who should walk, what the school regulations are (there is some dispute over where the kid actually lives according to the story, unclear if he lives within the 1.5 mi. and it is beside the point) and who needs exercise. none of that is relevant to this situation where a third party without the authority to do so, determines by what method a child will be sent home.
"What every other kid in the school district must do" was not the concern nor responsibility of the Mother nor of this thread.
There is no mention of the unsupervised travels of "every other kid in the school district." One hopefully can assume that "every other kid in the school district" has adequate supervision in their individual itineraries.