The Houston local television station KHOU picked up the story of a Kingwood mom who was attacked online for taking her kids to school by pulling them in a carriage behind her bike.
KHOU’s Brett Buffington visited Jennifer at her home in Kingwood to get the story directly from the source. She explained why she pulled her kids to school. She also showed her disgust for those attempting to shame her online.
Kingwood Mom interviewed by KHOU about the reaction biking kids to school
Kingwood mom who caused a stir biking her kids to school featured on KHOU (VIDEO) pic.twitter.com/y1LV6fmrDE
— Egberto Willies, Politics Done Right host 🇺🇲🇵🇦 (@EgbertoWillies) October 20, 2017
The reality is Jennifer owed no one any explanation. But it is clear the reaction to her pulling her kids with her bike created a story worth telling. According to KHOU,
KINGWOOD, Texas – Twice a day, five days a week, parents line up at Bear Branch Elementary. The line is long as students are picked up and dropped off. Since school started this year, almost everyday, Jennifer Ackerman has peddled past other parents, right to the school’s front door.
Her twin boys are in first grade but aren’t going to the same elementary school that backs up to the family’s backyard. One of Ackerman’s sons is autistic and the Kingwood school district offered the child a spot in a program that is designed for gifted children, including those with special needs. For the Ackerman family, that meant both boys had to be in two separate places, at the same time.
The KHOU interview and subsequent article were fair but I think they missed an opportunity to go more in depth with many issues that are readily apparent. Should there be recourse from HISD for parents that must be at multiple schools at the same time? How does one explain the psychology of those attacking the mom?