Surely you must have hear the recent news about 3 children killed while crossing a road to get to their school bus. If not, click on the clip below.
Social media has been exploding over this incident and unfortunately it took this tragic and preventable accident to bring a huge problem into our daily consciousness. As a teacher and a parents, I am in a unique position to see the incredible amount of stress and pressure that bus drivers go through at least twice a day in order to ensure our children get to school and back safely. For 180 days of the year, I am witness to the good, the bad, and the super ugly when it comes to the school transportation system. And let me tell you, a lot of it is not pretty.
I’ve decided to write this post from 2 different perspectives when it comes to the bus driver vocation. The first is from a parent perspective and the second is from a teacher perspective. What I have to say might shock and anger some, but someone has to start speaking up for the many men and women who BRAVELY get behind the wheel of a 23 000 pound machine and drive a load of children around… and this feels like a great place to start!
Bus Drivers from a Parent Perspective
The moment you put your children on the bus, whether it is for the very first time or the very last, you are handing your most precious cargo off to someone you might not know very well. From the moment the door opens and your child enters the bus, you have just placed your trust into one man or woman to make sure your greatest treasure arrives safely at his/ her destination. You know the drivers are well trained, the busses are well maintained and inspected regularly, and you have prepared your child with information and expectations of how they should behave while a passenger. But have you thought about the other drivers on the road? Drivers who ignore flashing bus lights? Drivers who blatantly fail to respect the extended stop sign meant to protect your children? Drivers who pass school busses on solid no passing lines?
Check out this ARTICLE from my home province of Prince Edward Island where something is finally happening to drivers who disrespect the bus drivers and children.
Have we reached the point in our existence where saving a few seconds of time on our commute home is worth the risk of killing or harming a bus load of people? Must busses now be equipped with dash cams to hold law breakers accountable? Have we gotten to the point where sending our children to school on a school bus poses a significant threat to their well being? Is it going to take another tragedy for people to finally get it?
If you are a driver and you come across a school bus, PLEASE SLOW DOWN! When you see a bus with flashing lights, PLEASE COME TO A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP! Stay off your cell phones while driving. Wait for the flashing lights to be turned off and the extended arm to be in its retracted position before placing your foot on the gas pedal. Wait for a safe and appropriate time to pass a slow moving bus. And for goodness sake, please think about the children riding the bus. They might not be yours, but they do belong to someone who would grieve terribly if you were to hurt them in any way. Don’t be the reason those children don’t go home tonight.
Bus Drivers from a Teachers Perspective
People think that teachers have a tough job, and believe me they do. I am a teacher and I know it is a tough job. However, when people say that to me, my response is always, “It’s not as hard as being a bus driver.” That I truly believe.
Imagine that you are a bus driver. You have 24 seats behind you and 48 children are occupying those seats. Most of those 48 children are talking; many yelling or shouting. Some children have special needs. None of the children are buckled in. Many are turning around, walking up and down the bus aisle, some are bullying, some are eating, and some are throwing things around. Several children are crying and one needs to go to the bathroom badly. Someone is vandalizing a seat.
While all 48 passengers are off doing their own thing, you are buckled into your seat with 1 mirror above your head to check on the behaviour of the people behind you. At the same time, you are checking your side mirrors for traffic behind you and your front windshield for traffic in front of you. Simultaneously, you are following traffic rules such as speed limits, stop signs, railways crossings, and traffic lights. With all of that and a whole lot more, you are now having to deal with a plethora of behaviour issues thrust upon you by your passengers. And hopefully this is all happening on a day where the weather is decent… can you imagine doing all that when it is raining heavily or snowing?
On top of all that, when you try to exert some discipline over your unruly passengers, you are met with insults, swear words, and accusations that you are being mean or unfair to Mr. or Miss So & So. Believe me, it happens. EVERYDAY.
I don’t know about you, but there are days when just having my two children in the backseat of my car bickering amongst themselves is enough to make me lose my mind. 48? Forget about it. I am not even going to let my mind go there. And the abuse they take from their passengers? I can discipline my children rather easily by refusing to take them where they want or need to go. Heck, I don’t even mind kicking them out of the car and making them walk home if the distance is reasonable. If a bus driver did that? Imagine the social media uproar that will cause… not to mention the loss of his or her job.
Anytime a child gets safely off the school bus, I think of it as a victory. Considering all the obstacles and distractions bus drivers have to juggle each and every day, I question WHY anyone would want to take on a job with that kind of responsibility . It takes a special kind of person to be a bus driver so the next time you see the bus coming around the corner, wave to your child’s driver. Hand him or her a gift card to a coffee shop. Show your appreciation by giving them a gift at Christmas or at the end of the school year, or simply show your appreciation by sending a thank you note with your child when he or she goes to the bus tomorrow morning. It is TIME to give bus drivers the respect and recognition they deserve.
Have a great day!
Tina Sharrock says
Very Good story! We love what we do. And we do alot more than just drive that very large heavy vehicle. Thank you.
I Heart Grade 3 says
Bus drivers deserve so much more respect than they are given. Thanks for everything you do!!!