Children walking to school

I remember walking to and from school with all the other kids from the neighbourhood right from the start. But that was in the 1940s.

Here it is positively encouraged, and an expectation- almost part of the Curriculum- much to the surprise and idsmay of expat parents.

I don't think all 9 year olds are responsible enough to be left in charge of a 6 year old. My mother, having 2 younger children at that time, made me walk to school on my own at 5, and I was bullied. I remember feeling very 'inconvenient' when my father had to walk with me a few times before the bullies gave up.

The following year, my sister started and I was only 6, she was 5. I was so frightened at having to be in charge of her. It really wasn't fair, I could see other women walking into school with their families and wondered why my own mother wouldn't.

I didn't allow my own DCs out on their own until they were 9, as a result, and they were certainly never allowed to be in charge of anyone else. A friend tried to make DD aged 8 be in charge of her 2 year old when they were both out in her garden once. While DD was up a tree, 2 year old fell in the pond. As DD was an incredibly sensible child, I could see how she would think it possible to trust her, but children of that age have the attention span of a gnat.

The woman's OH had refused to cover his pond, but he did give in after that incident.

I suppose it depends on how far, are there pavements etc, but doesn't surprise me as USA often seems OTT in its responses to various issues.
My DCs didn't walk unaccompanied because of narrow country lanes and being 2 miles from junior school but I'd often walk along to school with the dogs and we'd walk home together, often across the fields.
Senior school was 10 miles away but they'd usually walk to where the coach picked them up, half a mile or so, unless it was wet.