Covering the business of education and training

The majority of Japan's public elementary schools, about 90%, have created "safety maps" to guide children along routes to and from school and play areas so that the kids will be protected from accidents and crimes targeted against them.

Children participate in the creation of the maps by taking pictures and pointing out areas they think are dangerous to their teachers.

Dog-owner patrol groups are also in on the action.

Crimes against kids are the lowest.

If children can learn to identify dangerous areas:

1. empty lots

2. empty parks with shaded areas

3. dark alleys disguised as short cuts

4. car parking lots

they will be safer in the long run.

This is true...but still a sad commentary on society today that children can not study and play freely, but instead have to be cautious of perverts.

Why can't the children just be children?