Mom Makes Kids Walk to School after Missing Bus; Charged with Child Neglect

The story has people OUTRAGED!. Arresting her for being a good mom! Why, back in my day I walked three miles thru dagger and snow storms! This is why America is dying, folks!" But...is does it deserve the outrage? Maybe not...when you hear the whole story...

Here's the story that's making the rounds, this version from the Washington Post....

A Tennessee woman is facing child neglect charges after deputies found her driving ahead of her young daughters while making them walk to school...Marion County Sheriff Ronnie “Bo” Burnett said the mother told deputies her daughters were being punished for missing the bus, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports.

The story goes on to say that the girls were under ten, that it was cold, and that traffic was getting heavier on the road as they walked "the fog line" on the highway.

What's the roadway look like? This...

From above...

And the street view...

Here's the story from the Chattanooga Times Free Press...

A 32-year-old Marion County, Tenn., mother faces an April court date on child neglect charges after deputies found her driving ahead of her young daughters as she made them walk miles to school on Valley View Highway.

So, on that part the stories agree. After that, tho, the major newspapers stop. But the local paper? They go on to talk about the mom having no licence, so they couldn't let he drive the kids to school. Eventually, the father gets there and eventually...

During a pat-down search and a search of the vehicle the two men were driving, the officers reportedly found drug paraphernalia in Douglas Palmer's pants pocket but no drugs. He ended up being booked on charges unrelated to the girls walking, officials said...Burnett said the case now is being investigated by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, as well.

The rest of the story gives us the impression that there's been long term trouble with the family, and so maybe it's not so much about making the kids walk to school, but  law enforcement happening upon a legit reason, finally, to get Children's Services involved.

I don't know that that's the case, obviously. But the feeling I get is that the home life may be less than stellar for the kids and until now the police had no official reason to act on it. Was it right? I'm not saying one way or the other...

I guess what I am saying is that there's often a lot more to the story than we're told. And the 'outrage' angle gets played because it works.The only way we'll change it is to not fall for it.