Friday, June 22, 2007

School Is On But What is Missing in Holland?

Mother probably taking her daughter to school
Older kids by the hundreds bike past the Expats house morning and afternoon

Here appears to be a group of school kids on a field trip. Were they biking off to a farm?

So what is missing in the education process there in Holland? I did not see one, yes not even one, yellow school bus in three weeks. Kids in Holland pedal to school. The son and daughter of one of the Expats' friends pedal multiple kilometers taking about 30 to 45 minutes morning and night to bike to their high school in a neighboring town. Only in severe weather do they take a bus or train. And by the way their dad is a professor and mom is a medical doctor so they could probably afford a car for the kids. There are no overweight kids there and they really don't need P. E. to get into shape or burn energy! And consider the cost savings for the education process! Millions if not more not spent on fuel, vehicles, and drivers and support folks. Would it work here? On a limited basis in fall and spring maybe but its sort of hard to pedal in a snowstorm. But what would happen if bussing was ended? I suppose parents would take over transporting the kids with their cars as is the case in many areas even now. Nonetheless, it is interesting to know that in some cultures like most of rest of the world the kids are responsible for their own ride to and from school!

2 comments:

Beth said...

Ahh...but the kids can't drive until they are at least 18 and then it's mega money to fork over for driving lessons....bikes are cheaper!

Grandpa Jim said...

I stand admonished for my erroneous thoughts! But 18 for a driving license? Thats really old! And driving lessons? Don't they get those free in school?

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