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

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

[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."

[bannie]

Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks

Romeo in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

[John 3_19-21]

I have a fifteen year old son, inconvenience is a way of life for me, though most times it doesn’t feel that way.
He is and always will be a part of our family and as such he must function in love and trust. I believe these virtues are taught most properly in the home. I am sorry for the far to many families that feel this responsibility is some how inconvenient.

[pandoraou812]

I think the dad is teaching his children a good lesson. My dad wouldn't have spoken a word to me but he also would have just beat my rear end. I hope the dad talks with his children on these walks....Those walks & talks will be priceless memories later in life.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

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

Sounds like dad was walking right beside him.

[DaltonNC]

“Great dad - literally walking the walk.”

Just so the little guy has an adult with him at all times when on a public road. Otherwise, we might see a poster of him on Americas Most Wanted.

I would not let me grandchildren out of my sight on any road in the world today.

[pandoraou812]

Yes they will be & that is a good thing!

[Tax-chick]

I understand. Nothing can guarantee that your kids will turn out well, but imposing memorable consequences when they’re little, like the boy in the article, is very powerful. The father is showing his son that developing his son’s character is a top priority. As a couple of people remarked above, the main risk is that the boy will enjoy walking to school with his father so much that he’ll keep misbehaving on the bus!

Maybe they could start training for a marathon together after school, instead.

[Ellendra]

“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.”

I was just wondering that myself. That or his sister started teasing him about it in front of their friends. Now both kids have quality time with dad every day. That is outstanding!

[freekitty]

Wow.

[Tax-chick]

Or so they say, after a few beer.

[healy61]

Don’t go messing with that man. I don’t think he would put up with it for one minute.

[envisio]

>>>Glad I don’t live in the area. I’d have done a lot more than offer that father a ride.<<<

So what should he do.... sue the bus driver for hitting the apple with his head? .....let the kid misbehave? Let him do whatever he wants without consequence? Give the kid a hug and tell him he’s super duper special great?

Beside all that... I would not reccommend you or anyone else “do” anything. This is a private matter between father and son. Ain’t nobody else’s business how this man teaches his boy.

[Ed Condon]

When did they stop calling repair shops “panel beaters”?

[Azzurri]

Everyone needs to note that this story takes place in Australia. Had it happened in today’s USA, the parents most likely would be blaming the bus driver and suing the school district.

[PeanutbutterandJellybean]

This brings back memories. When I was in the 5th grade I had to walk a mile home from my bus stop. To save time, I would walk across the lawn of a neighbor's home who lived on a corner. My Dad (retired USMC officer)told me to stop doing that because it was it was disrespectful and would eventually cut a path into their lawn, the sidewalks were made to walk on. He said if he caught me doing that again there would be a punishment. The very next day I used my shortcut and walked across their lawn. My Dad saw me and when I got home he made me walk all the way back to the bus stop, with my school books in tow, and then back home again. To this day, four decades later, I have never walked across someones yard. That lesson left quite an impression on me.

[proudmilitarymrs]

Standing O for this Dad!!!

mrs

(the kid looks absolutely miserable, as he should) :o)

[curmudgeonII]

Humpty Doo?
Somebody's pulling your leg.

[wizr]

Amen. Goodonya bloke!

[spokeshave]

"Uphill both ways!"

And in the snow.

[Tax-chick]

Barefoot!