Guess I'm going to be the odd man out here. When I was a kid I had to walk to school too, and it was around 3 miles one way maybe even a bit more. Heck, guess you could say I lived on the wrong side of the tracks because they were between me and school. If I was late heading out I'd have to wait for one to three trains to pass before I could move on. I'm still alive to talk about it and no worse for wear. However, and a big however, we don't live in the same world as when WE were kids. Every time you turn on the news there's arother kid murdered or missing. No way I'd let a 10 year old walk out of my sight, or the sight of someone old enough to be responsible and safe, let alone 4 1/2 miles all alone. Kids have come up missing just walking alone to the corner store, heck even out of their own yards when not watched! I give her credit for wanting to teach him a lesson but I think she should have driven along right behind him or walked with him to see he got there safe and sound. Heck, she was even on vacation so she had the time to do so. I give the cops credit for once doing their job. If one of my young grandkids were out alone I'd apreciate the police looking out for them. Before ya rag on me just picture this.....it's your kid. He doesn't make it to school. Later he's found dead or never found at all. A cop says oh yeah, I saw him walking and he was fine when I saw him so I didn't pay him any mind. I don't know about you but 1) I'd be upset with myself for letting him go alone and 2) I'd be upset with the cop for not doing his job and making sure the kid was safe and got where he was going safe! Lets not rag on the cops for doing their job folks. It's good to hear of them doing something right.