A Parent's Plea

A Parent’s Plea
Written By: Lillian Watson

August 25, 2014

                Books, backpacks, pencils, and notebooks in hand the kids of the Clarksville Montgomery County School System are back in class.  Though the temperatures may still be high it is clear to parents and kids across the county that school is back in session.  With this brings a new awareness.  Throughout the summer kids have been at play in the middle of the day, and less likely to be out on your morning commute.  Now, with school back in session please be aware that there are children who are walking to bus stops and/or school.  Many students in Clarksville do not have the luxury of having the bus stop in their own driveway.  This means that multiple students and their families are now walking to the joint location that has been set up by CMCSS.  By having a joint bus stop this places multiple families on the roads and/or sidewalks across Montgomery County.  Please take the time to drive safely.

                With your increased vigilance across the county of these future doctors/lawyers/military members/police officers/fire fighters/etc. please also be mindful of two other factors.  Be mindful of the speed limit where you are.  This means that if it is 20mph in your neighborhood do not go 25mph.  If you are late, it is better to be late for work because you drove safely than to be late for work or never show because you killed a child or someone else.  Slow down and save a life.  This also means that it is time to set your cell phone down.  Stop texting and driving.  Not only is it against the law, but when you are looking down you miss the bright yellow school bus in front of you.  You miss the children that are climbing aboard.  You miss the warnings from the mothers who are signaling for you to stop.  You miss your job or class or date because you are in the hospital or jail.  PAY ATTENTION and SLOW DOWN.

                As a mother of two children I implore you to slow down and pay attention.  Too many times I have seen children who should have had plenty of time to safely cross the street almost hit because someone speeds around a curve.  Too many times I have seen people slamming on their brakes at the last minute trying to stop because the bus is loading children.  Too many times I’ve seen teenagers on their way to high school texting and driving.  The same issue arises with adults on their way to work.  When you are the one at the bus stop with the kids you will not care if the person speeding is late for work.  You care only about the children at that bus stop.  It does not matter if they are your child or step child.  You care about each and every child’s safety.  As mothers and fathers of these kids we are asking that Montgomery County takes the times to put the cell phone down, leave a few minutes earlier if you are afraid of hitting school traffic, take the lead out of your shoe, slow down, and pay attention.  We are asking you to remember that you too were once a child.  We ask you to remember that these are sons/daughters/cousins/nieces/nephews/grandchildren.  These children are our future.  Please show you care.  SLOW DOWN, STOP TEXTING AND DRIVING, SAVE A LIFE!