SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian father who made his 5-year-old son walk 13 km (8 miles) to school every day to discipline him has inspired an appreciation group on social networking site Facebook .

Sam Burt made headlines last week when Australian media reported that he and his son Jack woke up at dawn each day to walk from their home in a remote town in the Northern Territory to school.

The punishment was meted out because Jack had been kicked off the school bus for hitting the driver in the head with an apple core.

Fellow Northern Territory resident Renee Elliott was so impressed with Burt's approach she set up "The Sam Burt Tough Love Appreciation and Support Group" on Facebook , the world's largest online social network.

"All those in favor of Sam Burt's TOUGH LOVE say IIIIIIII," Elliott wrote on the site.

The site has attracted more than 151 members from around the world since it was set up earlier this week.

"Bravo Sir, Big fan of your work," wrote Corey Wilson from Australia.

"Good on ya Sam, he will thank you for this one day," wrote Michelle Spooner-Astill from the United Arab Emirates

"Finally, a parent takes time to teach their kid about consequence -- WELL DONE!!," wrote Jariah Kaissis.

Burt has become a local hero in his hometown. One Australian newspaper said there have even been calls for him to be named "Father of the Year" in the annual national award.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/technology/5192301

Good work that man!

Mark _australia said...

Top stuff. But I just know there is the bleeding-heart hand-wringing "oh please think of the emotional damage you are doing to the poor little thing" coming any minute

Perhaps, but that's kind of offset by the fact that the father is walking the 13km with the 5 yr old. Think of the quality time, father/son bonding etc. that's going on during the walk. You couldn't buy that!

Bet the kid never throws another apple core.

Good to see a kid being punished for being a brat.

Especially in this day of age when teachers can't use red pens to mark with and kids can't be spanked, and people wonder whats wrong with kids these days.

Was on my way to the hospital the other day (Wednesday) for surgery and saw 5 girls having a brawl in the train station WTF, these kids need to get their heads screwed on straight.

edit - just realized this is my 600th post, happy posting to me, happy posting to me....

doggie said...

Good work on yur posts there cRAZY, 600 thats heaps bro!

Be here all next week, no really I will be. I'm off work from the shoulder recon and I've got nothing better to do . Hence the new avitar

If all parents took some time to spend with their off spring alot of societies problems would disappear......

Walking 52km a day would suck. Why not just smack the stupid kid[}:)].
A guy i went to school with chucked an apple out the bus window, hit some girl in the face, and smashed some bones pretty badly. Throwing stuff at people like that is wrong.