And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.
- As You Like It by William Shakespeare.
Posted on 11/28/2008 2:32:45 PM PST by naturalman1975
A TERRITORY man has been making his five-year-old son walk two-and-a-half hours to school every day, after he was kicked off the school bus.
When Jack Burt confessed that he'd been banned for five days for hitting the bus driver in the head with an apple core, dad Sam thought he should learn the hard way.
He and Jack last week were getting up at 5.10am for the dusty 13km-hike from the Darwin rural area of Herbert, all the way to Humpty Doo.
Mr Burt also took the wheels off Jack's bike so he couldn't be tempted to ride to school.
At the end of the old-fashioned punishment, Mr Burt, 38, took out a public notice in the Northern Territory News.
"Jack Burt and his dad wish to thank all the kind people who stopped to offer them lifts in the past week," the ad read.
"It's good to see a number of good people in the community."
"Jack hopes to be allowed back on the bus on Monday."
(Excerpt) Read more at ntnews.com.au ...
Tough dad.
Good for him.
I like this guy.
A Real Man starts his child on the path to Real Man-dom (and Conservatism): Actions have consequences, son.
I’m OK with it as long as dad is willing to spend the 5 hours per day walking with the kid.
I bet he’s an angel on the bus for now on.
The father walked with him. Most would have driven the kid to school and taught him nothing. Now he appreciates the modern convenience of a bus or car ride. How many other kids do?
Kudos.
I feel bad for you, Jack...but as you’ve now learned, not everybody finds “Apple Core? Baltimore!” as funny as you did.
I bet the bus driver doesn’t get any more apple cores to the head. Great dad - literally walking the walk.
Shame it didn't work," Mr Burt said. "He got back on the bus Monday, and within three stops he was in trouble again. I couldn't believe it. "I don't understand - he's good at school, he gets awards all the time." So it was back on the road again the next day - with seven-year-old sister Caitlyn, who was fighting with Jack on the bus at the time, in tow. "He mucks up again, he's walking - that's what he's been told," Mr Burt said.
Well, he’ll either learn to behave, or he and his dad will be EXTREMELY fit!
Sometimes you have to impose discipline more than once before it sticks. But even if this hasn’t worked, at least Jack has been sent a clear message that his Dad cares a lot about his behaviour and cares a lot about him. In a world where too many kids have absent fathers, a Dad who is willing to put this much time into his son (and, of course, any Dad should - just nowhere near all do) is likely to help raise decent kids in the long run.
I have to wonder though if Jack enjoyed the long walks with his Dad, and didn’t get himself in trouble again just so they’d continue.
Okay...I’m guessing two-and-a-half-hour walks to school, in the Northern Territory, in late spring and (shudder!) summertime, are eventually going to suck for those kids. Eventually.
He is - Dad has been walking with him the whole way.
“I have to wonder though if Jack enjoyed the long walks with his Dad, and didn’t get himself in trouble again just so they’d continue.”
T’was my first thought as well.
Just wait until the child welfare commies get to him ....
Tough love. I’ve been using on my kid. But he stubbornly clings to the practice of fibbing. Life is going to hard for him with that kind of wrong headedness.
Mr. Burt for President.
Wonder if dad talks to him as they walk. I know my dad would have kept complete silence.....His usual punishment when I got caught. Still remember the little incidences 50 years later...but remember the silence even more.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.