>>>>Yes, I know, but weighing the two evils of that vs what might happen to her in a place like Toronto, I'd opt for the first. I know that 12 is the new 15, but I guess I'm too much of a worrier.
>>>
>>>FWIW, I think 12-year-olds today have far less personal freedom than they did when we were growing up. At 12, I'd get on my bike and ride a mile or so to the 7-11 for a Slurpee. At 9 or 10, I took the bus to the Y for swimming lessons. And I didn't grow up in a small town; I grew up in Philadelphia, albeit in a nice, middle-class neighborhood.
>>>
>>>I read an article recently about people trying to raise "free range children," kids who are allowed to go outside without supervision. Kids (at least middle-class and upper-class kids) today are mostly terribly overprotected.
>>>
>>>Tamar
>>
>>It is because criminals are overprotected.
>
>With 1% of your population imprisoned, I'd say that is rubbish..

... or you can say that one reason some people turn to crime is because the punishment is too lenient. It's easier to be in jail for a few years than being on your own trying to make a lawful living. They're the little train that couldn't or wouldn't...:)