View Full Version : School Buses
I occasionally get a bus home with high school children. Their behaviour on occasion can be absolutely awful. I have stood up and made my opinions known and the children behave fine after that. The bus drivers appear delighted.
What I am questioning is why there are no bus "chaperones" any more?
donnalee1994
16-May-07, 14:29
I wish there was,my son has been bullied on the school bus a few times and the school has done very little to help with this situation,to me it would solve a multitude of sins for the public as well as the kids themselfs,but as always it comes down to the cost!!!! [evil]
There should be far more supervision - must be a nightmare for the drivers unable to control what's going on. Presumably they should all wear seat belts but do they? At least if they had to stay in their seats there would be less bullying and general rowdiness.
probably very distracing for the driver also
They do not wear seat belts although they are supposed to
They shout obscenties
They bully kids
They stand up and shout at each other
They ring the bell incessantly
They cheek the driver
They put their feet up on the seats
They throw various objects
They do not queue they just barge on
The worst thing I heard was a boy in the seat behind shout at another child something beyond disgusting...I later heard from the kids on the bus that he was one of the worst school bullies and what he said was not unusual.
Oh and to balance the view
They can be very polite
They can sit nicely
They can chat civily
They can sit still
They can behave
I could have a very long rant about this topic. Bullying and other trouble on school busses has plagued my kids for years.
The most unbelievable incident was just a couple weeks ago when a boy (P7, I believe) peed into a bottle he had with him, and then he and another, younger boy...and possibly one other involved as well...dumped the contents over my 11-year-old son and a young girl in P2.
Should there be adult escorts on school busses? I would say an emphatic "Yes!"
Margaret M.
17-May-07, 00:15
Bus chaperones would be a great volunteer opportunity if expense is a problem.
I could have a very long rant about this topic. Bullying and other trouble on school busses has plagued my kids for years.
The most unbelievable incident was just a couple weeks ago when a boy (P7, I believe) peed into a bottle he had with him, and then he and another, younger boy...and possibly one other involved as well...dumped the contents over my 11-year-old son and a young girl in P2.
Should there be adult escorts on school busses? I would say an emphatic "Yes!"
This has happened on several ocassions Elenna involving the same child. What's being done about it? 'sod all'
I'm sick of complaining about the school bus. No-one wears a seat belt! they are jumping all over the seats and the driver has a hard time getting the kids off the bus at their stops.
NickInTheNorth
17-May-07, 10:08
Would you say the the guidance given here:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/Parents/transport-guidance
Is being observed?
NickInTheNorth
17-May-07, 10:13
I could have a very long rant about this topic. Bullying and other trouble on school busses has plagued my kids for years.
The most unbelievable incident was just a couple weeks ago when a boy (P7, I believe) peed into a bottle he had with him, and then he and another, younger boy...and possibly one other involved as well...dumped the contents over my 11-year-old son and a young girl in P2.
Should there be adult escorts on school busses? I would say an emphatic "Yes!"
Has anyone approached the school directly regarding this incident, with times dates etc?
Has anyone approached the parents of the child(ren) in question?
Has anyone approached the police?
So often this type of behaviour continues because the basics are not tackled.
i found it idd when i first started going on buses down here when there was school children on it. it was not nearly half as bad as it is up there!
no constant bell ringing (ring to get off)
no running about
no abuse of other passengers.
they still sometimes smoke on the buses, and shout and sear but not as much as i have seen up in Caithness.
I have no been on the buses a great deal at going home time, but it isnt as scary! i think the bus drivers tolerate less.
i asked my boyfriend about the bell ringing. he says kids used to do it alothere, but if someone did that, when the bus driver pulled over, he would not drive off again until someone got off!
maybe the bus drivers need to be harder on the kids?
(not that is soley up to them)
Mr P Cannop
17-May-07, 11:59
i think the bus drivers are too soft here in Caithness
Would you say the the guidance given here:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/Parents/transport-guidance
Is being observed?
In a word "NO!"
This equates to there being someone to check everything is OK and that the driver is not disturbed. That children should feel safe (duty of care). Again I ask why are there no chaperones, is our childrens safety not an issue.
Do they still have bus inspectors? when we were younger every now and again a bus inspector would come on and observe behavior and check you had a valid bus pass.
NickInTheNorth
17-May-07, 13:41
It sounds like the sort of issue I would take up with my local councillor. The highland council do not appear to be sufficiently interested in their duty of care towards our children.
It was suggested to us at my children's previous school that when the number of school children needing the bus increased to 1 more than the number the bus could take that they would operate the service in 2 runs. Collecting from one area and dropping those children at school, then coming along to collect the rest of the children and taking them along.
It was felt that this would be an adequate solution because the teacher was usually there early. The fact that she did not have to be, and some days was not did not seem to disturb then one little bit. Their notion of care should perhaps be renamed the duty of couldn't care less!
This has happened on several ocassions Elenna involving the same child. What's being done about it? 'sod all'
I didnt know that, angela5, though in the circumstances as I understand them, it isnt surprising. If that is so, the fact makes me rather angry, though.
Would you say the the guidance given here:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/Parents/transport-guidance
Is being observed?
I skimmed through that, Nick, and to answer your question...No, I dont think its anything near to being observed.
And I do think one of the main problems regarding that fact is that, yeah, the schools themselves are supposed to present/implement these safety programmes mentioned, and give all the lectures, etc, but they have no actual authority over incidents/behavior outwith school premises...when children are going to and from school, either on foot or on the school busses (we have been told this time and again by a number of different headteachers). Neither do the transport companies that provide the vehicles have jurisdiction over the behaviour of pupils. So, unless there happens to be an adult present who has the guts to intervene, or an actual criminal act is committed that can be reported to the police (and even then, unless its a major assault, or criminal damage, little can/will be done), kids who have the tendency to run amok will do so, creating, at the least, a lot of misery for the other children.
Has anyone approached the school directly regarding this incident, with times dates etc?
Has anyone approached the parents of the child(ren) in question?
Has anyone approached the police?
So often this type of behaviour continues because the basics are not tackled.
In short, Yes, all suitable authorities were contacted within roughly half an hour of the incident (as soon as our outraged and humiliated 11-year-old got out of the shower, where he headed immediately upon coming in the door, and then told us what had happened), and it was also followed up next day by us, and we do know that the school authorities at least investigated the incident and repremanded those involved. But like I said, the schools dont have the authority to do much more than that, so it does rather end up being just a slap on the wrist. (and from what angela5 said, one that apparently keeps being repeated, to little effect :().
I'm glad, with regard to this topic at least, that my son will be moving on to High School in a few weeks and will no longer need to ride a bus to school.
Again I ask why are there no chaperones, is our childrens safety not an issue.
It sounds like the sort of issue I would take up with my local councillor. The highland council do not appear to be sufficiently interested in their duty of care towards our children.
It was indicated to me by a headteacher, at the time of the incident I have mentioned, that he, at least, had been pressing his schools administrative board for bus escorts/chaperones for years, and from what I understood (I could be wrong) it was up to these bodies of the individual schools to arrange something like this...I assume by requesting parent volunteers.
However, perhaps pressure to/by local councillors could help. I'm sorry, I'm not really clear on just who has responsibility for what when it comes to local government (though from the sound of things sometimes, they arent always, either :lol:)
NickInTheNorth
17-May-07, 14:23
Ultimately the responsibility lies with the local authority, i.e. Highland Council. Yes they try and pass the book to the lowest level possible, in this instance the individual school, but ultimately it is the Councils problem.
I occasionally get a bus home with high school children. Their behaviour on occasion can be absolutely awful. I have stood up and made my opinions known and the children behave fine after that. The bus drivers appear delighted.
What I am questioning is why there are no bus "chaperones" any more?
Can you tell me:
Which bus is this happening on?
What's the bus company called who drives this bus?
With the Highland Youth Voice, we can try and find out about chaperons and what can be done about this. The top issue we have at the monent is transport so we could attempt to have something done about the problem you are describing. I can't obviously guarantee it but this is dangerous as a distraction to the driver so it is important that something is done. Unfortionatly, the school can't do an awful lot about it. They could send letters home to the parents of every one on the bus if it's the majority of the people on the bus causing the problems. If it is just a few, it's also very difficult to find the names of the trouble makers. What the bus driver can do is, if any people are causing trouble, they can but a suspension on their bus travel, remove their bus pass or even ban them completely from the bus and force them to make their own way home.
I will bring the issue up with HYV as I'm sure there will be many other school busses with the same problem, just no one has taken the time to complain. I will also contact someone from the Scottish Executive dealing with transport as I have done on a previous issue.
I have asked the school about parent chaperones but the problem is that all the parents involved would have to go through disclosure scotland checks which from what I know can take forever.
NickInTheNorth
17-May-07, 16:14
they did at one stage but now they are down to about 2 weeks in nearly all cases
I have asked the school about parent chaperones but the problem is that all the parents involved would have to go through disclosure scotland checks which from what I know can take forever.
They did at one time, it's around 2-3 weeks now.
Buttercup
17-May-07, 17:12
Many parents just don't believe their kids could get up to such nonsense. Why can't the offending children's parents be told of their behaviour? I believe a few years back one girl's parents were informed by her school that she was no longer to be allowed to travel on the bus as she caused too much trouble. Has anyone tried complaining to the bus company? If it's happening on the bus surely they should be doing more to stop it!
newlabeluk
17-May-07, 19:01
i know a driver that moved from Northants to caithness and he loves the school run........mind you he's no push over. he once took the whole bus load of corby kids straight to the police station when they where acting up nad he's been known to stop the bus up there if they ring the bell and refuse to move until someone gets off. :D or at least begs his pardon:lol:
Hi
my husband is a bus driver over the years he has taken a lot of children to and from school. Unfortunately they do not have alot of recourse with the behaviour of them, but he stands for no bad behaviour if the start standing up before he pulls off he will quite happily stay where he is until they are all seated and boy do they know it, a few parents have even been on his bus at the time and want to borrow him after hours LOL:lol:
As for the seatbelt issue yes they are supposed to wear them but the driver has no authority to inforce this
I travelled on a school bus last night, kids were generally well behaved and when I asked a couple of them to sit down, they did so without question.
Well done kids.....:Razz
I have heard rumour that there are to be chaperones on the buses after the holidays...is this true. I hope so.
alot of 13 14 15 yr olds swear an awful,they say words ive never heard in my life and im 21 lol
i know some1 that was on the bus from thurso to wick on the high school bus he wasnt best please with the behaviour he told them to shut up basically lol
i think the bus drivers are too soft here in Caithness
There are other too who think that the bus drivers could do more too. But what? When they are driving along they can hardly get up and stop whats happening? I am a pupil on a bus and have been through it all. I am sick of it. But I know that there is nothing that can really be done.
There have of course been a few occasions where the bus driver has had to slam on the brakes when thing have been thrown at him. He will make sure they sit in their seats before moving off again but there is not much else possible to do? He could refuse to leave if people didn't behave but he has runs to do after the school one. He can't be late. Its not as easy as some people think.
I remember at one point the bus was so bad that we had two drivers on board. One to drive and the other to make sure that everyone was behaving. It worked. But it was a nightmare for the bus company. We then had a teacher for a while but by then all the toublemakers had swapped to another bus and the teacher wasn't needed. As soon as she left they came back to my bus and it started all over again.
I have changed buses so many times trying to get peace on the way to school and home. Its done nothing. If these people are going to be like this I think names should be taken and then they should either have to make their own way home or have to pay. They would think twice if they knew they would be out of pocket for their behaviour.
And well done to mccaugm!! We could use a few more people like you!
And well done to mccaugm!! We could use a few more people like you!
*blushes* Thank you....glad to be of service.
danc1ngwitch
11-Jun-07, 19:51
Ermmm, children will be children, ( don't you dislike the word kids ) anyway, The dreaded school bus[lol] most children cannot wait to get of, but see its mainly the children who think they are untouchable that causes alot of trouble. ( hey my name is blah blah so i will trip so an so up make all the other children think i'm even more kool because I'm just great I tell yeah ) So and so takes it for a while then all hell explodes. Drivers dare not put a hand on the children to seperate the fight so he turns a blind eye and cannot wait to get them all of the bus.
Adults act in the same way it's just some out grew the fighting.
I know adults who huff and puff, talk infront of other adults like they don't exist so i'm afraid this behaviour is ongoing and not just on the school bus.
Let children be children, give them a role to follow, begin at home. x
Penelope Pitstop
12-Jun-07, 09:43
I could have a very long rant about this topic. Bullying and other trouble on school busses has plagued my kids for years.
The most unbelievable incident was just a couple weeks ago when a boy (P7, I believe) peed into a bottle he had with him, and then he and another, younger boy...and possibly one other involved as well...dumped the contents over my 11-year-old son and a young girl in P2.
Should there be adult escorts on school busses? I would say an emphatic "Yes!"
This really is shocking behaviour ..... and especially from primary school children. Beggars belief what these children will grow up into. Do their parents just not care??
im suprised the bus operators havent installed cctv cameras as a detterent on the buses to stop bullying and bad behavior i would imagine it would be cheaper for them in the long run than paying for a chaperone and damage to the bus i think if the kids no its there it will hopefully make them behave better
danc1ngwitch
13-Jun-07, 18:37
Why? As children i recall the old mirror on the decker and how certain children would throw a coat over it, you learn to read the signs, part of life i'm afraid. Don't you think they'd cover the cctv? maybe even cause damage and more money stomped out.
[evil]I have just come of the bus which leaves the High Street in Thurso going via the High School at about 3.30. ABout 20 + teenagers got on. A couple of minutes later the head of the school and a senior teacher also got on and told the kids to put their seatbelts on. This they did for approximately 30 seconds..the time it took for the teachers to get of the bus. Before the bus even pulled away some ofthe kids were turned round facing the back of the bus or with their feet in the aisle with the standard carrying on.
I commend the teachers for getting the kids to buckle up but without the continuity of actually BEING ON THE BUS it was totally pointless.
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.