Dad tells 5-year-old, 'You did the crime, you walk the line'

Northern Territory News ^ | November 28th, 2008 | ALYSSA BETTS

[naturalman1975]

And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.
- As You Like It by William Shakespeare.

[vladimir998]

Tough dad.

Good for him.

[Crazieman]

I like this guy.

[freedumb2003]

A Real Man starts his child on the path to Real Man-dom (and Conservatism): Actions have consequences, son.

[cripplecreek]

I’m OK with it as long as dad is willing to spend the 5 hours per day walking with the kid.

[CrappieLuck]

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.

[RichInOC]

I feel bad for you, Jack...but as you’ve now learned, not everybody finds “Apple Core? Baltimore!” as funny as you did.

[AD from SpringBay]

I bet the bus driver doesn’t get any more apple cores to the head. Great dad - literally walking the walk.

[pandoraou812]

However it didn't work.....

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.

[knittnmom]

Well, he’ll either learn to behave, or he and his dad will be EXTREMELY fit!

[naturalman1975]

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.

[RichInOC]

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.

[naturalman1975]

He is - Dad has been walking with him the whole way.

[cripplecreek]

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.

That thought crossed my mind as well.

[ExpatGator]

“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.

[naturalman1975]

Oh yeah - this is a tropical area. The minimum temperature - as cool as it gets at night - at the moment is close to 80F. During the day, it will get into the 90s. And 75-100% humidity, all the time. Not to mention the daily torrential rain. And we're still fairly early in the season.

[SkyDancer]

Just wait until the child welfare commies get to him ....

[SatinDoll]

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.

[LucyT]

Mr. Burt for President.

[Sacajaweau]

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.