rules about kids going door to door alone?

by popcorn_eater 22 Replies latest jw friends

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  popcorn_eater

  My stepdaughter, who just turned 12, was telling me about her most recent door to door experience and how excited she was to get her first return visit. I was pretending to be happy for her and not horrified, and listening to the story. But then she said that the other person with her at the door was her 13 year old friend, also a girl.

  I know the org doesn't seem to care much about children and their welfare, but is this normal? Should they not at least have an adult with them? She said there were adults around, but they were down the street at other doors and could have done nothing but watch if something bad happened to these girls.

  Do I need to do something about this?
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  ShirleyW

  Sounds like whoever took the group out has no concerns for his group whatsoever, when I was around that age in the 70's with my other peers in the KH I never recalled being assigned to one of my friends, always an adult. Now here we are about 40 years later when you really need to look out for young folks and this idiot sends to preteen females door to door ??
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  Blind_Of_Lies

  There is no age restriction at all, they typically recommend that people regardless of the age go in pairs. I have never heard of them saying that one of those two people must be a certain age, they rely heavily on people’s judgment. Obviously you cannot put your daughter’s life in the trusting hands of cult members. If I were you I would call or write the service overseer in the group and inform them that if your minor child is sent out door to door without an adult escort (define adult as over 18 or over 21 whatever you want) you will press them personally with reckless endangerment charges. It seems extreme and frankly you probably could never get away with that legally if push came to shove but I guarantee your daughter will never get sent out without an adult body guard again.
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  Disillusioned Lost-Lamb

  It's like the parents that lets their kids run wild in public and then are shocked and appalled when one of them gets hurt or abducted.

  The same is true with witlesses, except the territory is just one big giant Kmart to them and they think Jayhoover's working security.

  (Yeah I said Kmart cause WalMart's too classy for most witlesses.)
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  steve2

  I'd be very interested f the Watchtower has a written "policy"on this because older posters may well remember earlier decades (e.g., 1950s and 60s) when it was not at all unusual for JW parents to send their children unsupervised out door to door. I had a magazine route (as they were called back then) and, while I cannot remember the frequency of going out on it, used to do it by myself as a matter of course. My older sister and younger brother also had their own magazine routes. In later years, parents seemed to be more cautious about sending their children out unsupervised - but I do not know whether this was because of any "change" in policy or advice.
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  popcorn_eater

  Interesting point steve2. I too remember going door to door, in the '90s, selling candybars. But it was in my neighborhood; I knew people.

  I think I am going to the memorial (unfortunately) so I was thinking that might be a good time to pull aside this one dude I sort of know, who I think is someone higher up, and voice my concern.
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  Yan Bibiyan

  Do I need to do something about this?

  Can you convince her to carry a 9MM, just in case?

  In all seriousness, this is irresponsible behavior on the group leader's part. I guess, they have heard few too many "two-big-burly-men" stories from the platform......
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  nugget

  It was very common. When we did the leaflet campaign I was 9 and worked on my own, over and over with my sister. Short presentation hand tract and walk away. The aim was to cover as many doors as possible not be concerned about security. As a young teen I occasionally worked with my sister since with 4 children my mum couldn't take us all on the door together.

  I don't think JWs are ver good at assessing risk assuming the angels will protect them. If you are at all concerned then mention it, it does not sound as if they have even considered the possibility that these young girls might be in danger.
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  cantleave

  You must be a good actor to pretend to be happy for her.
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  blondie

  Is there a principle inherent in this WTS statement below? Based on this why would the WTS approve of children going alone door to door? So there is no written rule but it lacks the "common sense" they seem to present below. But individual jws make their own crazy rules. I never went alone but sometimes with another teenager which was just as crazy...we were cautioned not to go into any homes.

  *** km 7/07 p. 3 Question Box ***In view of the foregoing, parents should monitor their children’s activity on the computer. (Prov. 29:15) It would be dangerous to invite a stranger into our home or to allow him to be alone with our children. Similarly, it is dangerous for us or our children to make friends with strangers over the Internet, even if they claim to be Jehovah’s Witnesses.—Prov. 22:3.

  *** km 11/99 p. 3 par. 6 Use of the Internet—Be Alert to the Dangers! ***Would you invite a stranger into your home without first finding out who he is? What if there was no way to find out? Would you allow such a stranger to be alone with your children? This is an indisputable possibility on the Internet.