I recently revisited my childhood town and walked from my childhood home to my school. I hadn't done that for nearly 50 years. It was shorter than I remember, of course, but it was still several blocks. The last time I walked it, I was five. I also learned to ride a bicycle when I was five, so that took the place of walking for the latter part of the kindergarten school year.

I arrived at the school just as it was getting out for the day. I did not see a single student of any age leave without an adult.

Like so many people of my generation, I can only wonder at the cost, and be grateful that I was born when I was.