THE COURANT JANUARY 2008
Walker tired of taking the high road
By Jackie Salo, Staff Writer
It's 2:20 PM and I'm in my ninth period
Spanish class, where, instead of paying atten-
tion to learning about conjugating verbs, I am
gazing at the sky through the window, praying
that it won't rain. This is because I, like most
students who live within a mile radius from the
school, am designated as a walker.
Along with what I'd assume to be many
other students, I have two full-time working
parents and no older siblings, so the luxury of
having a built-in chauffeur to drive me to and
from school is out of the question. When the bell
rings at the end of the day, the excitement that
comes with the completion of the school day is
quickly suppressed by the dread of having to
walk home. As I stand waiting at the crossing
sign, I become aware of the chill in the air, and
this becomes a reminder of the fact that I have
to deal with the weather of the winter which in
return makes me anxious.
The entire walk home is a balancing act Illustration by Greg Oh
between the countless binders necessary for
doing my homework that night, the heavy
math textbook I'm required to carry to and from class everyday, the incalculable
amount of Vitamin Waters piled up in my bag (no matter how many times I clean
it, I still manage to be carrying a minimum of four bottles), and what I like to call
the "Walker's Survival Pack." This consists of an umbrella, an iPod for entertain-
ment, my cell phone, and the occasional pair of comfy shoes (in exchange for the
cute, painful pair ones worn during the school day that are suitable for walking to
class, but not all the way home). With all of this, it is not completely unreasonable
of me to fear a hernia within my first block of walking home.
I'm not one to be paranoid, but Fox News, and the seemingly constant
Stranger Danger" warnings from the Commack
School District webpage, tend to make me revalu-
ate my safety in my own neighborhood. With such
thoughts in the back of my mind, I feel like I have
to think about the dangers that might be out on
my own quiet, tree-lined suburban street. It is an
added obstacle in my walk home. I have to view
each person that may be on the streets, and make
quick judgments as to whether or not they are a
threat to my safety. I can't help but feel uneasy
when I am being put in such a situation where I
have to continually question my safety.
In a school district that has such a strong
objective to keep its students safe, I have to won-
der why transportation for all seems to be a trivial
concern for the whole taxpaying district. It seems
as if the school district takes precautions in all
aspects of safety, but when it comes to protection
that would require extra funding, its aid is lack-
ing. Has this issue simply gone unnoticed or pur-
posely disregarded?
The rules in the school are relentlessly chang-
ing, and for good reason. As the years progress,
the rules and regulations regarding transportation
need to do the same. Guidelines that were created decades ago should not be ex-
pected to work now. As the world has proven, times are not as safe as they once
were. So it is a given that rules regarding safety need to be revaluated.
As I finally turn onto my street, I see a big yellow school bus on its way to
finish its route and drop off its remaining passengers, and can't help feeling envi-
ous of those fortunate enough to miss the cutoff by being located at least a mile
away from the school. I now long to be on one of those buses I once detested.
What once seemed to be a nuisance now looks as if it is a privilege.©