She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe. You may accidentally run into traffic and get hit by another car on the street. "Our transportation department has been working each day and evening to continue to build efficiency into our routes," says Valeski. Don't allow him to play video games or do fun activities until the chores are complete and his debt is paid off. Talk with your child about school. "They have combined routes when possible and sought assistance from other contracted bus service providers who are willing to pick up selected routes, even if it is for a short duration. These differences help bus passengers experience much less crash force than those in passenger cars, light trucks and vans. This article has been viewed 69,056 times. If we shift to where were really focusing on the kids that are making good choices, those that are exhibiting attention-seeking behaviors may eventually switch so that they are misbehaving less often, added Spittler. The same survey found while 80% of drivers have received bullying training, nearly half of the drivers want more training to be made available to them. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/how-much-sleep-do-kids-need, http://www.ojrsd.com/cms/lib8/PA01916155/Centricity/Domain/671/Transportation%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.pdf, https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/school-bus-safety. Take 3 giant steps back from the curb when your bus approaches. Knowing that he'll have to stay late may motivate him to get up and out the door a little faster if his motivation in missing the bus was to get out of school. They have to withstand daily pranks from their charges and at times abuse from the children, parents and other road users. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Zerah Isaacs is a technical research assistant with experience in both academic and industry biomedical research. If your district has an anonymous reporting tool, consider adopting a similar system for school buses. Fifty-seven percent of schools reported school bus driver shortages and within urban schools, that number jumped to 60%. Parents and guardians can call 407-317-3807 to obtain the status of your bus at any time. If she dawdles, a simple timer may motivate her to get dressed or eat breakfast on time. Do not talk to any strangers when you are waiting for the bus stop. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. After all, drivers cant do their best job (keeping kids safe) when theyre distracted by rowdy kids. 2. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. He is passionate about eradicating inequities in schools for all children, especially those who have been historically underserved and marginalized. It's somewhat of an inexplicable bus behavior, but it's something drivers wish passengers would stop doing. Gather all the students, do not let them be late to class! You may set an alarm for 5:30 am, 5:45 am, and 6:00 am. 1.6K views, 40 likes, 13 loves, 1 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from W18: PREGNANCY AND TILLIE UPDATE 2011. Choose a spot that you wont be able to reach from your bed, like a desk across the room or a far-away window sill. "It can't be a regular thing or I'd lose my job.". 7 It means a lot to them to be appreciated. Always obey your school bus driver's instructions, so that he or she can make safe decisions. It's important to give him consequences that will motivate him to get on the bus next time. As schools continue to invest in improved campus safety, anonymous tip lines are becoming commonplace for many districts. To avoid the chaos in the morning, take a few minutes before bed to put together your outfit for the next dayincluding a shirt, bottoms, and shoes. This article has been viewed 53,567 times. If your school bus crosses railroad tracks, be calm and quiet so that your driver can listen for a train. Support wikiHow by Drivers arent required to wait with the bus while the kids and chaperones head out to for fun. Alleviate potential problems by giving students assigned seats on the bus. That way, you wont forget it or have to go looking for it in the morning. Though less talked about than the teacher shortage, the bus driver shortage is one of the most acute, along with shortages of paraprofessionals, special education teachers, and substitutes. You still need to do everything you can to not miss the bus. Drivers plan out seat assignments because it helps maintain order and provides better chances for cooperation between childrenespecially as they get older, when their on-bus behavior can become even more of a distraction. Since the sizes and weights of small school buses are closer to those of passenger cars and trucks, seat belts in those vehicles are necessary to provide occupant protection. 3. Teach them how to ride with respect. The best way to avoid trouble is by designating kids to certain seats. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Riding the school bus is a privilege. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 69,056 times. Here are a few suggestions culled from our Principal Life Facebook group to help you deal with bus problems. This special ed teacher has helped minimize bus discipline problems for elementary students by creating a culture of reading on the daily bus route. They also include protective seating, high crush standards and rollover protection features. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. They have also staffed their office with additional personnel to answer phones and assist parents whose kids' buses have been affected. There's nothing worse than getting ready for school and having no idea what you want to wear. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. However, if your kid doesnt let the driver know someone called them a name or hit them, then the driver may not realize there is an issue. Late arrival and departure. This is a limited service with fixed bus stops. She supplies baskets of books for students to read along the way. Although it is estimated that 10% of all student bullying occurs on school buses, a survey found 55% of drivers are very minimally included, if at all, in developing bullying policies. If you miss the bus, you can try to get a ride from your parents or a neighbor. They cite a laundry list of offenses, from foul language, bullying, and not following driver instructions to aggressive behavior, threats, fights, weaponseven drugs and alcohol. Drivers can be responsible for about 70 children at any given time, so its unrealistic to expect them to catch everything happening on the bus. Or, you might create atoken economy system where he earns tokens for getting ready by a certain time and for getting on the bus. Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. If you're looking for easy, healthy lunches you can prepare in advance, try. The most common cause of action that parents may make when their child is injured in a school bus is that of negligence. When the student is late, the teacher marks off one of the spots. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Her son's bus was one of them. And when kids do act up, theyll end up in those empty front seats so the bus driver can keep a close eye out. Once the tardy card is full, then you would follow your own discipline plan or the school's tardy policy (e.g., write a referral, send to detention, etc.). 2022. "I need my kids to get home on time so that I can drop them off at their dad's work, which is where they stay when I go to my bartending job," says Angelina, a San Francisco-based mom to two boys. The following rules have a potential consequence (if not followed) of the school bus driver not seeing the student and placing them in danger of being hit by the school bus: Arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to come. By preparing for school the night before, sleeping well, and getting up and out the door faster, you can be confident that you'll get to school on time. Csar specializes in education program development, curriculum improvement, student mentorship, social justice, equity leadership, and family and community engagement. It is very informative and you can help someone in need. If bus discipline problems persist, approach the district about providing bus aides. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The night before the first day of school, Eliza received a call informing her that her 12-year-old son's bus would be 30 to 40 minutes late in the morning due to unexpected driver resignations and illnesses. Amari D. Pollard is a writer and audience development strategist. You do have an answer. "I can come into work late every once in a while if there is an issue with my kids," says Angelina. If youre between 6 and 12 years old, try to get 9-12 hours of sleep every night. In addition to Readers Digest she has been published at The Week, Bustle, PopSugar, Inside Lacrosse, and more. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. This happens fairly often, but for some reason, passengers tend to crowd the front of the bus and choose to stand in that general vicinity even where there are other seats available. Some make it a priority to be highly visible during the dismissal process, stepping aboard any bus that isnt ready to safely proceed to the road. National Survey Finds Severe and Desperate School Bus Driver Shortage. I'm surprised the school hasn't already contacted them. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. "My husband and I both have to leave for work before the bus arrives so we are unable to drive our son.". Video documentation will help you avoid a he-said-she-said situation when problems occur. ProQuest LLC. Elizabeth Mulvahill is a Contributing Editor with WeAreTeachers. ", But some parents aren't satisfied yet. Or, if you have a lot of assignments that are due soon, write out a quick to-do list for the upcoming days and weeks to get them off your mind. The school may instill consequences, such as making him stay after school. Even kids who dont use the bus daily will more than likely be riders for field trips or special events. For example, if youre worried about a big test, write down the main points you need to remember so you can stop obsessing over them. But that contract is between the bus company and the school, not you. In the hierarchy of public school priorities, safety is a nonnegotiable. Many others schedule ride-alongs, finding their presence alone goes a long way toward improving behavior. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing. Your child should also make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing to make sure the driver can see that theyre crossing to avoid the danger zone. Hats off to the writer to bringing out such crucial tips especially during the beginning of the year. "This situation has caused plenty of unneeded stress and anxiety to an already hectic beginning of school.". For kids who get off to a rough start or need to hit the reset button, set up a refresher course. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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