Australian Officials Comment on Jessica Watson’s Sailing Skills
How would you like it if the governor watched you fall off your bike and then told you, “You really should not enter a bicycle race, because you might fall down and hurt yourself. Your bike-riding skills are inadequate, and you should get training wheels?”
Jessica Watson, the 16-year-old who wants to sail around the world, heard something similar from state officials in Australia:
Acting Premier Paul Lucas last night said Jessica should abandon her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the world. […]
“I’ll say this much – just because our maritime safety experts may not have any powers to stop her, it doesn’t mean they don’t have a duty to talk to her parents about any concerns and how they could be addressed.”
No, the government does not have a duty to counsel the parents of every teen who wants to participate in potentially dangerous sports. However, I’m glad the Australian government is leaving the decision up to Jessica and her family.
