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Title: Free-Range Maryland Family Cleared of Child Neglect Charge
Source:
Reason
URL Source: https://reason.com/blog/2015/05/26/ ... -maryland-family-cleared-of-ch
Published: May 26, 2015
Author: Lenore Skenazy
Post Date: 2015-05-26 21:08:19 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 17783
Comments: 85
Hallelujah! Danielle and Alexander Meitiv have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the Dec. 20 incident when they let their kids walk home from the park in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Washington Post reports: A Maryland couple investigated for neglect after they let their two young children walk home alone from local parks have been cleared in one of two such cases, according to the family’s attorneys and documents. The new Child Protective Services finding, which follows an appeal, comes as the experiences of “free range” parents Danielle and Alexander Meitiv have drawn national attention, sparking debate about parenting choices and how far local officials should go to enforce laws designed to protect children. It overturns a previous CPS decision that held the Meitivs responsible for “unsubstantiated” child neglect, a finding typically made when there is conflicting or insufficient information for a more definitive conclusion. The change came as a welcome surprise to the Meitivs, who were informed in letters they received May 18 that neglect was “ruled out” in the case, which dates to their children’s December walk from Woodside Park. “It was an enormous relief and vindication,” Danielle Meitiv said in a Washington Post interview, the family’s first in six weeks. “Of course there’s no neglect here. There never was. There was never even a hint of it.” The Meitivs aren't in the clear yet, however; there's still a charge against them stemming from that other time they allowed their kids to walk home from a local park (the little recidivists). The kids were held for five hours, and the authorities didn't even notify the parents until about three hours in. “We’re hopeful it will be resolved in the same way,” Danielle Meitiv said. “The facts of the two are the same. They’re the same kids, we’re the same parents. They were walking in the same neighborhood. . . . Neither case is neglect so we’re hopeful that CPS will just see that and move on.” Danielle Meitiv said she stopped giving interviews April 13, both at the advice of lawyers and because the most recent experience became upsetting to talk about. She said she’s speaking out now in hopes the new ruling may assuage the fears of other parents who want to let their children venture outdoors to walk or play, but are worried about CPS involvement. “It’s also really good news,” she said. The Meitivs advocate free-range parenting, which encourages independence and exploration. The term was first coined in 2008 by New York journalist Lenore Skenazy, who developed a following for pushing back against what many saw as a hypervigilant “helicopter parent” culture. That New York journalist would like to clarify that she is not pushing back against helicopter parents—she feels parents can raise their kids however they see fit. She is (I hear) pushing back against an entire culture that sees children only through the lens of danger, trauma, and fragility, which then tends to overreact to any threat, no matter how remote. Just sayin'. But first, a woot of joy for justice, and for kids everywhere. Ye Olde Founding Mother suggests: Why not celebrate by having them walk to school today? Lenore Skenazy is host of the reality show “World’s Worst Mom” on the Discovery Life Channel, starting Jan. 22. She is also a public speaker and founder of the book and blog Free-Range Kids. 
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#63. To: Deckard, GarySpFc, SOSO, liberator, tomder55, Vicomte13, BobCeleste, Chuck_Wagon, misterwhite, sneakypete, TooConservative (#0)
My how the times have changed. EVERY kid I grew up with, including me, was 'free range.' Walked to and from school at the age of 6. Rode my bike miles from home by age 8. In the summer the kids on my street we would all get up eat a bowl of cereal and head out to a makeshift ball field and play baseball until it was dark that evening. Of course much is different these days. Back then, there was Mrs. B across the street who always kept tabs on us and gave us snacks and drinks in the summer months. Her husband was a police officer and her son was one of the best little league catchers I pitched to. Mr. B loved baseball (big Yankees fan) and after he got home from work, would pitch to us and teach us how to throw a curve ball and great stuff like that. Most of the older kids (12-14) played with us and were not dopers but athletes. We all looked out for each other too. No air conditioning (or a few had wall units for really 'hot' days and nights in the 'dog days' of NY August), so the older folk sat on their porch and questioned stangers who were mostly door to door salemen. Neighbor at the corner had two 'man eating' looking German Shepherds which gave both non- neighborhood 'family' and postal workers pause. Basically everyone looked out for each other and their kids. You learned a lot from those older folks sitting on their porch. The stories of wartime America, the rationing, the family that served in WWII...Wow, I'm glad I grew up when I did. I try my best to contribute to my neighborhood these days. We have turned out to be like Mr. and Mrs. B, as Mrs. RLH makes sure the kids get drinks and a quick snack in the summer time and after school and I pass on what I learned from Mr. B with regards to baseball. We try but the environment is much different. Most neighbors keep to themselves; kids stay close to their own property for fear of 'stranger-danger' and there is much to be concerned about. It seemed 'back in the day' child predators 'were handled' differently and great policemen like Mr. B made sure his neighborhood was safe---all the dads did so too. A lot more kooks, perverts and drug abusers running around middle class neighborhoods these days. Which give parents a lot of pause and why what used to be standard kid roaming is now called stupidly "free ranging."
And the police never even considered shooting them.
There are no replies to Comment # 71. End Trace Mode for Comment # 71.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestThe new Child Protective Services finding, which follows an appeal, comes as the experiences of “free range” parents Danielle and Alexander Meitiv have drawn national attention, sparking debate about parenting choices and how far local officials should go to enforce laws designed to protect children.
#71. To: redleghunter (#63)
Neighbor at the corner had two 'man eating' looking German Shepherds which gave both non- neighborhood 'family' and postal workers pause.
Replies to Comment # 71.
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