Sharing with you all the email I have sent to my daughter's principals and to the supervisor over the buses at our school district.
To all concerned,
Today, I came home from work to find that my daughter had been put off the bus for three days. The paper she had said that she had been standing while the bus is moving. I spoke with her about it, she said yes, she had stood by the window for the air. I told her how she has to be seated all the time, whether she is hot or not, whether others are up or not.
I fully support the bus drivers and think it is a crying shame we have stripped them of almost all authority. It is a job you could not pay me enough to do.
But I have plenty of issue with Namewithheld I.S.D. and the ridiculous way rules, rule above all common sense. What am I talking about? A child being put off a bus before the parent even knows there is a problem or has a chance to correct the problem. That is wrong. You have ample ability to contact me. You have my work number, you have my home number, you have my email address and I am almost always at the bus stop with my daughter.
My other issue in this type of "punishment" is that it does absolutely nothing to the child. It punishes parents and families. My family is struggling to survive. My husband has been unable to work since January of this year. My son just started a new job that has him leaving the house at 5:50 am each day. I am trying desperately to get all the hours I can at my job. That means I have to leave before your campus is open to receive students in the morning and I'd haveto leave work early to pick her up from campus.
I see no reason to punish my family like that. If you want to give Hannah corporal punishment and put her back on the bus, fine. If you do not agree to that, then Hannah will be home those three days and you can loose money instead of me!!!!!!!!
I regret that this school district leaves me no other choice. I can remember when common sense ruled and staff worked with parents and they came down together on miss behaving children. I know Mr. Nash remembers that era. I was at Namewithheld High School under him. And I know that Mr. Barclay remembers that era as well, for I have known him since I was a teenager working at Namewithheld Auto Company.
One more time, just in case looking it up is too hard for you:
My home phone: xxx-xxxx
My work phone: xxx-xxxx
My email address: bhbner2him@aol.com
Sincerely,
Barbara Lastname
Now, can I get an AMEN?!?!
Amen, Sister!
ReplyDeleteTraci
You're right, it's crazy that anybody thinks this is a good way to deal with things. If they want to punish her, make her stay after school in detention until you get out of work and can pick her up!
ReplyDeleteHi Barb....altho my children are grown...( I remember this happening when my dau was in Kgarten LOL)..don't remember what she did....must have been a doosey!!! anyway my grands don't ride the bus....but you get a great big AMEN from me for this...cause like you say...the kid isn't punished...prolly don't like riding the bus anyway LOL...it is the parents and/or family who are punished...sheesh....hope you get some good feed back from this....and I am sure you will find much for Hannah to do with her three day "vacation"???? God Bless...hugs from KY...Ora
ReplyDeleteOH AMEN Barbara! I remember common sense too. I have heard so many stories about buses around here too- from kids getting beaten up without the bus driver getting involved- to the latest where a little girl had to go potty (she's about 5) and the driver pulled over to the side of the road and told her to go right there- on a very busy road!!! Beside the bus with all the kids sitting there!!!! I'm sorry you guys are having such a hard time right now- and this kind of thing does NOT need to be! You hit the nail on the head- why in the world did they wait 3 TIMES before they said anything?! For crying out loud- if I wasn't a Christian, I'd say where is this world going to?! God Bless you sweety- I hope you get this resolved soon! Love Carolyn
ReplyDeleteAMEN! I can't believe they didn't even send her home with a notice or anything.. Linda
ReplyDeleteAmen, Barbara. There are other ways of dealing with these minor misdemeanours. It wasn't as though she was vandalising the bus, was it? Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI'll definately say AMEN! Just as you said give the parents a chance to correct the behavior. I absolutely think you're making the best decision for your family, if the school can't bother to work with you then you have to do what you have to.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless
Christy
Triple Amen!! Well written letter!! We have some issues with our bus driver too this year. They are trying to push the driver to go faster and get the kids to school faster or more on time. I am okay with the on time part, but it puts the kids at risk and is a safety issue and I'm really worried so I'm about to contact our school as well. If they want to come earlier, that is okay, but having the driver go "faster" is just wrong to me. Hugs,
ReplyDeleteLisa
You can! I don't understand it either. I hope this works out for you! You just reminded me of a letter I have prepared since the summer time and failed to mail. YIKES. I'm sending it to the board of education and to the school district superintendent. Shame on me for forgetting, but thank you for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteYou get a big Amen for sure!
ReplyDeleteYou are most correct about the lack of respect bus drivers get so they need something to be able to take of real problems. Whatever happened to just a warring first?
Was a special ed. assist. for years in our public schools here in Plano, Tx also and for whatever reason they think by putting the child off the bus it will get the message across to the parent who really will drill the message into the child. Not sure about this logic.
1st time reader and loved your journal found you from Christy's journal.
Sharon
journals.aol.com/hbound4/struggle-within
Big Time AMEN!!! Common sense? when it comes to certain school systems in this country, "common sense" is against their rules... God Bless Ya Barbara...
ReplyDeleteMik
Yes, indeed! Very reasonably- and well-written. I'm interested to see what kind of response you get from that. You make absolute sense.
ReplyDeleteLori
Amen and Amen. The schools have no power to control kids who pose a real danger, so the punishment for infractions that most of the time are accidental on the part of good kids is way too severe.
ReplyDeleteYou've got an AMEN here! I can appreciate the need for safety on a bus, but there's no common sense at all in enforcing the rules, just SLAM! If they find it necessary to suspend a student off the bus, they should give the parent some lead time if it's a non-violent offense such as this.
ReplyDeleteDirk
BARBARA,
ReplyDeleteHOW FAR FROM HOME WAS THE GIRL WHEN REMOVED FROM THE BUS AND IF SHE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL THAT COULD BE VERY SERIOUS IF NONE OF THE GIRL'S FAMILY WAS HOME ?
I DO NOT HAVE A HIGH OPINION OF A LARGE PORTION OF PSYCHIATRISTS, THOUGH THAT BUS DRIVER HAD BEST BE EVALUATED BY ONE.
THE BUS DRIVER'S ACTION HAS A PROXIMITY TO THE ACT OF KIDNAPPING. CONSIDERING EVIL PEOPLE ON THE LOOSE, THE RISK IS GREAT THAT THE GIRL COULD SUFFER GREAT HARM.
DO THE BUS DRIVERS HAVE TO PASS ANY KIND OF MENTAL OR COMMON SENSE TEST BEFORE BEING HIRED ?
HOPEFULLY THAT BUS DRIVER IS NOW LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT JOB THAT BETTER SUITS THE INTELLIGENCE. sam
Oh my! So sorry to hear all this. The stuff schools do these days!
ReplyDeleteKara :)
I think that's an awesome letter and very well written, considering how angry I am sure you are. I say, " AMEN", and I agree with you one hundred percent. I have experienced ignorant people stepping in and taking a situation with my child out of my hands and stating their version of resoluttion to the situation and felt like I was dealing with complete idiots, I understand your frustration.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think that those people should have spoken to you and given you the opportunity to deal with the situation first. A one time incodent of such a minor infraction shouldn't have the consequences that your family has had to deal with.
In my home growing up, a good ole fashioned spanking or extra hard chore did the trick and having to face mama was a lot more intimidating than facing the principal or teacher. It's a shame that the world is changing things because how we dealt with things back then sure worked. I am anxious to hear how it all worked out or if your letter had any impact at all.
Good grief, I am with you. Why didnt someone contact you before kicking her off the bus for three days? Some parents do actually still respond when the teachers or whoever contacts them! Never understood that suspension. To a kid, suspension is like a mini vacation...for misbehaving! Duhh..
ReplyDeleteNot disagreeing totally...but does the bus service have a insurance liability issue? If they allow this & she got hurt idea? Sometimes they between a rock & a hard place, they don't do anything & then they get sued when hurt. Yes, I do agree they should contact you first & try to change the behavior. How old is your daughter? Geez...we are standing on the train to Chicago so???
ReplyDeleteYEs that zero tolerance crap is stupid...
ReplyDeleteDonna In TEXAs