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Sgt. Mark A. Smith - 11/17/99 02:48:12
My Email:BARTOBANDI@AOL.COM
From (City, State): BARTO,PA.
Parent, Teacher, etc: POLICE OFFICER
Subject: HOSTAGE SITUATION ON SCHOOL BUSES

Comments:
I am a tactical (SWAT) team leader attempting to research articles on hostage situations on school buses. I was unable to get the article from your page. Please forward it to me if possible. Thanks

- 11/06/99 23:07:03
My Email:VASHIRAS@aol.com
From (City, State): Norfolk, VA
Parent, Teacher, etc: Parent
Subject: School bus assaults

Comments:
Recently, my 14 year old son was assaulted by an 18 year old student on his school bus. My son chose not to hit back when the other student attacked fearing a suspension. The school bus driver locked the door when the assault began, reported via 2 way rad o the incident to her supervisor and kept the door locked, with all students on board, until her supervisor arrived on the scene. I went to the bus stop looking for my son when he did not arrive home on time(also where the bus was stopped), at which time noticed my son covered in blood and hanging out of his bus window to spit the blood that was continuously pooling in his throat. I insisted that he be allowed to leave the bus to receive medical attention, but the request was refused by the bus driver an the supervisor once he arrived. It was explained to me that this was falling within policy guidelines to handle the situation as it was, and that it was for safety reasons that this was the policy. Maybe I don't get it, but it seems to me that it isn't s fe to lock someone in a confined area with their assaulter, nor to refuse medical treatment when it is necessary. It is practices like this one that make people feel unsafe sending their children to school on a bus. Bus drivers need to be trained how to h ndle situations such as this in a manner that will be safe for all. Ignoring the obvious won't make the obvious go away.

Patrick F. Donaldson - 10/21/99 12:59:47
My Email:pfdforbes@aol.com
From (City, State): Portland, Oregon
Subject: Security

Comments:
Our firm is conducting a security assessment for three (3) Portland metropolitan area school districts. The issue of transportation security is a major part, in our opinion, of the vulnerability of children before, during and after transportation. We have been unsuccessful in locating resopurce material on this subject. Why? It seems as if the emphasis on school security is oriented almost exclusively on the school environment yet children are regularly away from thta locale. Any ideas for resources? Th

Charlene Rogers - 10/17/99 12:02:02
My Email:timothyroger@infoave.net
From (City, State): Moncks Corner, S.C.
Parent, Teacher, etc: parent
Subject: Bus safety

Comments:
One year ago, a bus driver refused to take my son home and let him get off 8 miles from our home. When I went to the school board about this all they did is tell the bus driver not to do this again. Now this year, another bus driver refused to take my son home again and put him off 3 miles from home. My son had to run 2 miles to my brother's house and call me to come get him. Again this time no one seems to be concerned over this matter and I have been treated like I'm over reacting, that he's O.K., get ov r it. The bus driver got a reprimand and that's it. Now I'm having to take my two children to school because they are not safe on our buses. Do you have any sugguestions? Thanks, Charlene Rogers

Dan B. Hodge - 10/10/99 19:18:17
My Email:danbhodge@emeraldis.com
From (City, State): Greenwood, SC
Parent, Teacher, etc: Bus Driver, Educator
Subject: Bus Driver Shortage

Comments:
There are many causes for the shortage of bus drivers: financial, emotional, etc. I feel the greatest deterrent to keeping bus drivers is the antagonistic attitudes many parents take toward the bus driver. I've had parents say that their children could ot behave on the bus because I was out to "get" their child, i.e., there was a personality conflict between me and their child. The only problem I have with that is that no child who is under the authority of an adult has a "personality problem." They ust do what the adult says to do, even in Mom and Dad don't agree. When Mom and Dad (or Grandma and Grandpa, more likely) come down on the "side" of the child and refuse to uphold the driver's authority, they are creating a situation in which the child w ll never learn the proper respect for authority, and in which no one will want to be around that child. Hence, many drivers opt for more financially rewarding professions in which they do not have to endure the antagonism of people who ought to know bett r, but don't.

Christine23y - 10/01/99 15:28:02
My Email:dustieroze@aol.com
From (City, State): NYS
Parent, Teacher, etc: School Bus Driver
Subject: Reaching The Public

Comments:
Over the years, have any of you read the cartoon character, Ed CRANKSHAFT? I commented rather strongly at UExpress.com that as a school bus driver Ed should retire. --Then he did! (Those old posts of mine are not showing up now at that site but I saved w at I said). I also posted at the same site that maybe he should look into becoming the MANAGER of school bus driving in 'Centerville'. Right now 'ole' Ed is busy helping Smokey Williams to better his baseball abilities! (At least now he isn't intent on hopping up the backyard fence)! I have not been trying to appear flippant or boastful or down right dumb; I most sincerely feel that a cartoon either in both newspapers and on the TV showing what the job of school bus driving is actually like would go a long way to help kids understand their responsibilities on a moving ten tons of metal on six tires in busy traffic! I just had another idea. What Ed did as a school bus manager could also tie in with what goes on in the schools showing the kids the extention of their in-school responsibilities tying to the safe school bus trip to and from school! (In 22 years; this is my 23rd year, I have noticed that many school admin. themselves don't get the connection)! In all the problems and tragedies occuring in our schools, it feels to me that a TV-newspaper cartoon would help kids to find their own way to a safer school day. I am absolutely brimming over with ideas for such a program!!!! JK: How do I e-mail this over to U-Express or the cartoon syndicates so my post stays there???? Cs

Carolyn Paris - 09/30/99 00:55:11
My Email:cparis2055@aol.com
From (City, State): Upper Marlboro, MD
Parent, Teacher, etc: Driver Trainer
Subject: Who's Driving ?

Comments:
School Bus Driver's must hold a commercial driving license to qualify to drive a bus. Considering that folks driving far less precious cargo than our children can be paid twice as much as do bus drivers, compensation needs to be expanded to keep the good rivers on the job. In addition to training incentives, school drivisions must become competitive with other employers by offering vacation and sick leave, as well as health-care benefits. When school divisions offer paid training, health-care benefits and competitive salaries, the shortage of bus drivers will disappear.

Cheryl Forrester - 09/19/99 20:04:29
My Email:tommyandcheryl@cableone.net
From (City, State): Columbus, Ms.
Parent, Teacher, etc: parent and substitute teacher
Subject: standards in school

Comments:
Perhaps our standards have fallen so low that we have forgotten teaching discipline and respect. Our students need to understand that respect for teachers and fellow students are extremely important. When there is no discipline in the classroom, there i little respect for the teacher and for the right of the fellow student to learn. Perhaps we should get back to basics such as teaching academics. If a student is disruptive and repeatedly refuses to obey classroom rules, then he should be out of the cl ssroom with a visit to the principal for a heart to bottom talk. Yes, I advocate spanking as discipline. When a student knows there are unpleasant consequences for wrong actions there is a good possibility that those wrong actions may be avoided in orde to avoid the punishment. Also, I believe that a posting of the Ten Commandments in our schools again will be beneficial to students and teachers alike. Whether or not you are of the Christian Faith, you will have to agree that the standards set by thes Commandments are wonderful for society. Examples: "Thou shall not steal", "Thou shall not commit murder". These are definitely beneficial in our society. What parent or school authority can possibly disagree with the standards put forth by these two ommandments? Raise the moral standard and I believe you will see a change in the attitudes of our students and teacher as well as administrators. Our nation has a heart problem. We need desparately a heart change. Along with the moral standards being aised will come this heart change. What kinds of problems were in our schools when the Ten Commandments were posted in the halls of our public schools? I believe if researched, you will find that the majority of problems were gum chewing, an occasional cuffle between students over virtually nothing at all...not the violence and meaness seen today. Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion.

Susan - 09/07/99 19:12:25
My Email:curley@misn.com
From (City, State): Mo
Parent, Teacher, etc: school bus driver
Subject: Sept 99 Front Page: Where have all the bus drivers gone?

Comments:
Where have all the bus drivers gone? Many of them have left for better paying, less stressful jobs. The media seems to portray school bus drivers as morons or idiots, so the public has an image of us that is very warped. Many parents seem to think that s hool bus drivers are easy targets. They scream and yell at us, not realizing that we deserve the same respect that we give their children every day. If I didn't love my kids so much I don't think I would still be driving a bus. It seems like it gets wors every year. A good way to retain good drivers is to pay a living wage. Almost every bus driver I know has another job that they work during the day to make ends meet. That makes for some very long days and tired bus drivers. Another way to retain good dr vers is for the school to stand behind their drivers when there's a dispute over discipline or with a parent. If a driver is in the right, the school should stand behind them 100%. This isn't always the case. Third, it would help if the media would start to portray us as people with brains. I don't think the general public has any idea what a bus driver does. We don't just drive a bus. We have to be Mommy, Daddy, nurse, counsler, homework helper and take care of anything else that may occur. All of this t 55 mph with 65 children sitting behind you! Thanks for the opportunity to say my 2 cents worth!

pass66 - 09/05/99 03:05:03
My Email:pass66@aol.com
From (City, State): calif
Parent, Teacher, etc: school bus driver
Subject: Feature Series: To tell or not to tell

Comments:
We all know that if you tell on your employer you may not have a job later that day. And most of the time it falls on deaf ears. I can only hope that may change some day.

pass66 - 09/05/99 02:47:37
My Email:pass66@aol.com
From (City, State): calif
Parent, Teacher, etc: school bus driver
Subject: July Front Page: seat belts

Comments:
I've driven school buses for 14 years and don't think that seat belts are a good thing! They work in cars but not in buses. The kids hit each other with them and tie them across the ailes. When you have 66 or more kids how are you to know when they have t em on or playing with them? There are more important things to worry about. The accident rate with buses is far lower than most people think. You only here about bad accidents not how well a bus company is doing on safety. I think parents, who believe it eat belts would be a good thing, need to come and ride on a school bus with 42-86 kids with seat belts and see what a hard job it is!

Barbara Lang - 08/04/99 17:18:40
From (City, State): Cary, NC
Parent, Teacher, etc: parent
Subject: July's Front Page - Seat Belts on Buses

Comments:
Absolutely, we must pass laws to require seat belts on all our nation's buses. We need to protect our children on their way to school.In NC over 1,000 children are injured yearly due to school bus wrecks. Seat belt would significantly reduce this number.S ates that have seat belts have noticed that discipline has improved as an added bonus. Kids cannot get out of their seats,if they do they are not allowed to ride the bus for a period of time. It is a much safer environment for everyone. It makes the bus d iver's job much easier.Also in case of a fire, I would much rather have my child belted in and conscious than knocked out in the fire from the accident. A four year old can unbuckle a seat belt. In the bus wreck that my child was in, children had to step n each other to get out because they were thrown all over the bus. We live in progressive times, it's time to catch up in the issue of bus safety. We wouldn't dream of driving our kids around unbelted in our cars, it is the same theory in a bus.

Debbie Moore - 08/01/99 00:37:21
My Email:dm9165@bellsouth.net
From (City, State): Georgia
Parent, Teacher, etc: School Bus Driver
Subject: Kids In Charge - Refusing to transport

Comments:
I strongly feel that a school bus driver should have the right and be supported by administrators to refuse to transport an unruly child if it is safe to leave them. If you are at school, or at the child's home (with parents at home) and you know that it is safe to not transport, you should be able to make that choice. It only takes one child that is out of control to get the entire bus load of students going. A teacher would not have a child in the classroom that refuses to follow directions and the teacher is in a building with help close at hand, not rolling down a highway. It is a safety hazard to each and every person on the bus.