Let’s Meet Halfway

It’s hard to believe that, due to the spacing of my children, I have had students in Glendale Unified schools since 1996. I still have two more years to go before that chapter closes. With that time span, I have acquired a lot of “mom wisdom” along the way. I have seen a lot of change, too, but not as much my dad, big Ray Martin, who got started as a Glendale teacher over 50 years ago.

Today’s schools are no longer able to simply provide educational opportunities for students, dealing occasionally with a discipline problem. Now school administrators, teachers and staff are expected to protect students from the growing list of possible risks to their lives and limbs, from bullying and social stigma to drugs, violence and suicide. That’s a tall order and not what most educators signed up to do. Yet, we cannot expect educators or legislators to solve this issue without help. As parents, it is our personal responsibility to take the lead not only to motivate learning but to also keep our students safe – all students, not just our own children.

Instinctively, my family began this process when our children were little. Our friends visited with their children and we each took turns making sure the collective group was happy and healthy. We looked out for their kids and they looked out for ours, in our homes, at the park, by the pool. With each year that passed, I realized how vitally important it is for everyone in the community to keep doing this.

One of the easiest ways to help students stay safe is to be a good driver. Each day, when I drop my daughter off at school or pick her up afterward, I am keeping my eyes open and aware. I am looking out for students walking and am ready to brake, if necessary. I take it as my responsibility to be both cautious and courteous.

Why do I do this? Because this is how I want other drivers to behave if my child is crossing the street, even if she might not be paying attention. Every day, when I wait on the corner of Cloud and Altura, I am shocked by what I see. I estimate that 90% of the drivers not only do not stop at the stop sign but they rarely will let a waiting pedestrian cross. These are both students and experienced drivers. Thankfully, most of the students who walk by that corner are alert, but that is not always the case elsewhere.

The other day, I was on Foothill Boulevard, waiting to turn left into the Walgreens parking lot. There was a young man, high school age, walking and looking at his cellphone. I watched him blindly shuffling along the sidewalk. He passed the driveway to the parking lot and never looked up to see if it was safe to cross. I could have easily made my turn and not see him.

Behind him, about 30 feet back, was another student doing the exact same thing. I continued to wait while he moved forward, not looking where he was going as he also crossed the driveway. I have seen many students do this and, increasingly disturbing, adults too, walking like zombies among us. More often, though, it is the driver who is not paying attention to the pedestrians.

The schools have had their challenges with bad parent behavior as well. To those who drive way too fast blowing through crosswalks to those who don’t follow the car line rules or those who simply leave their young child in the middle of a busy street to crossover by themselves: What are you thinking?

This school year, let’s vow to continue to watch out for each other and teach our children that ultimately their personal safety is up to them.

Susan Bolan
susanbolan710@gmail.com