Are children second class citizens?

It is nothing new. For most of our history, it has been common to say and practice that children are to be seen and not heard, to speak only when spoken to. Then we went through a period when it was popular to not stifle our children with so many rules and boundaries, instead, letting them blossom and be creative, expressing themselves in their own way. It appears that the no-boundaries type of parenting may have resulted in a generation of children who have pushed those who do have boundaries to their limit.

Most recently in the news has been the Pennsylvania restaurant, McDain’s, just outside of Pittsburgh that began enforcing their new policy of banning all children under the age of six. According to an interview with WFMY-TV, the owner of McDain’s, Mike Vuick, started the policy because of customer complaints, and reactions to the new policy have been mixed. Vuick says that, “McDain’s is simply not the type of place for young kids. Especially since children’s volume levels may be difficult to control, which may disturb other customers.” The new rule will have no exceptions.

Where do babies and kids under six fit into this new policy? They don’t. There is no federal law being violated under Vuick's new restaurant policy. McBain’s isn’t the only restaurant with a “no kids allowed” rule. Across the nation, other business owners are trying it out, offering their customers a more peaceful culinary experience.

So when did children become such a nuisance in our society? The first business example I could find was in 2004 when Malaysia Airlines banned infants from the first-class section of their 747-400 fleet. It did not cause much of a stir. But when they announced that children would not be welcome in first class in any of the recently purchased Airbus A380 super-jumbo jets, it suddenly made a blip on some people’s radar screens. The Airbus is scheduled to begin flights for Malaysia Airlines in 2012.

In February, “a campaign was launched to encourage airlines to create child-free flights and zones on planes, and Virgin, Emirates, and British Airlines implied that they are looking into this,” according to MSNBC.

If you are a parent, restaurant dining and airplane travel are inconvenient with these new policies of course, but probably the most intrusive regulation regarding where our children are and are not welcome comes from a home owners association in Edgewater, Florida. The HOA is still mulling over a decision on whether to ban the children in their subdivision from playing outside.

The new rule would fine residents $100 for every violation of their children being caught playing outdoors and is being considered by the HOA of a 48-townhome community called Persimmon Place. “They came in and rented a home in a community that does not have a playground and is not conducive to children to play in the driveways and parking lot at Walmart or Kmart, but they come here and turn the children loose,” said HOA board member Kim Scott.

The proposed HOA rule would make it so that no child could be outside unsupervised, and that things like bikes, scooters, skateboards, games of tag or “obnoxious toys” would be banned from “common property.”

There will always be children raised by parents who others feel do not properly discipline their kids. They play too rough, use foul language, play games, listen to music and watch TV or movies that we don’t approve of. But how tolerant should we reasonably be expected to be? From a dinner in to staring through the window watching the adults enjoy the outdoors. Has it all gone too far?

Where do you think the line should be drawn? What would you do if you received notice that you would be fined if your children were caught playing outside?

Let us know your thoughts on this or any of the previous Sound Off, Odessa! articles by writing to P.O. Box 458, Odessa WA 99159, sending an email message to therecord@odessaoffice.com or dropping by the office to leave a note. Ideas for future articles are also invited. We value your opinion and would like to give you this forum to express your feelings on the subjects we cover.