Anyone work for a school bus company now or in the past that can tell me if a situation on my son's bus is typically allowed? My son complained recently of being teased by a boy on the school bus. When I tried to look up the child in the school directory I couldn't find him. Then my son informed me that this child does not get off at the school. My son's school was not aware that a child not attending the school was riding the bus and further checking has revealed the child is the son of the bus driver. Do bus company's typically allow this? I would think it would be a major liability issue for them if this child was hurt in any way or if he hurt another child. Or do you think the driver is doing this on the sly? I am monitoring the situation and so is the school (because more than one child has complained about being teased by this kid). I have also notified the driver that I have reported it to the school as a problem. But I am curious about the bus company's viewpoint.
Thank you for the info. I had no idea it was such standard practice. Just to fill in some details...I have already spoken with the person at my son's school who is in charge of bus behavior. His school is extremely proactive about bus behavior and does not tolerate teasing or bullying, however, in this situation they do not have direct control. The added difficulty is that my son's school does not contract with the bus company directly. Our local school district contracts with the company and then sets up the bus service to get my son to his school in the another district. I also spoke directly with the bus driver to let her know what was happening (though her son sits in the front near her so she should have been aware), told her I have reported the problem and it needs to stop as it is not okay for her son to tease my son. My son is riding the bus again and feels comfortable that he can report any further problems or improvements to the bus person at his school. So far there has been enough improvement that my son is okay about riding the bus again.
I know several bus companies allow the driver's children to ride the bus with them just so they get employees. I know this of atleast 5 different school districts in 2 different states. This way stay-at-home moms and home school moms can drive and earn extra cash. But I'd be having issues if their kid was teasing my kid....I agree with you when you reported the issue!
I always rode the bus when my mom drove. Of course, that was in the early 80's... I'm not sure if it there is anything different that wouldn't let them take them now days... It was never an issue when I rode with my mom though.
I would absolutely contact the bus company and discuss it with them. Talk to the other parents and possibly (if you can) drive your child to school until this is resolved. Good luck!
I'm a teacher, and I know that bus drivers are allowed to bring their children on the bus -- it's sort of billed as "free daycare," and a perk of the job. I have had several bus drivers for my class who had a baby or toddler strapped into a seat.
However, I've never put my students on a bus with a child already on it who was old enough to tease them. I'd definitely talk to the driver about this. If that doesn't help, then call transportation for the school district.
I know that the bus company in my area does allow the divers children to ride the bus. I think the driver needs to be told about the childs behavior (though he/she should be aware all ready) and if it does not change the driver need to be told to make other arrangements for his/her child.
our bus company advertises that you may bring your children with you #1 as a benefit #2 to try to get drivers. However if their child(re) can't behave on the bus then both parent and company need to do something about it. If it wasn't their child, their policy clears states steps of disciplinary action and they DO enforce them. when my granddaughter was 4/5 she was denied bus use for a day due to behavior. She is a good child but on the energetic side. hope this gets solved easily and nicely.
My sister is a bus driver and the company she drives for does allow her to take her own kids to ride her bus while she is on route. I also had to ride the bus to school many years ago and our bus driver always had her kids on the bus. I think it is up to the company whether or not driver's kids are allowed to ride the bus.
The bus drivers are allowed to bring their children. It is because it actually allows the companies to get enough bus drivers. Many stay at home moms can make extra money if they can bring thier toddlers with them. They even install seat belts to hold the car seats! I have several friends in a couple of states who have done that.
However, I would call the bus company and let them know that since it is the bus driver's son who is doing the bullying that you do not feel comfortable with asking for his help and that it is a hostile situation for your son because he can't get help.
Why don't you call the school bus company and ask them what their policies are?
Yes you can be a bus driver and take your children with you.
My friend worked for First Student and was able to bring her 2 kids along. However they had to be in a carseat buckled in.
I've had so many problems with bus drivers, my daughter being picked on the whole works. I went down to first student in person and snapped on the this guy in charge. Trust me noone cares. I was going around in circles with the driver, the bus co., the principal, the superintendant of the district the whole 9 yards. Make your voice be heard loud and clear and put your foot down. If the driver's child is teasing and tormenting he/she should get a warning and be fired if it's continual or not beable to bring her child to work.
BTW my daughter's in the Burnsville school dist. I eventually had to just pull my daughter out of school and put her in a private school. She was being called the "N"word,(were white) and all sorts of profanity, being pushed, shoved you name it. Bus driver didn't care. My daughter is a sweet lil 7 year old too.
You could do what I did, I got onto the bus at the busstop and yelled at the boys myself. The bus driver threatened to call the police and I said ok call them. Your not protecting my daughter let's have the police come out.
Then a week ago I was watching for my daughter's new bus to come since she's in private school now. Her old bus comes a few minutes ahead of time and the kids got off the bus, one boy took his book bag off, took his coat off and started beating the ka-jeebers out of this other little boy, the bus driver didn't say a word, just sat there and watched. Just reconfirms why I took my child out of that public school and off that bus.
Trust me advocate for your child noone else will.
Unfortunatly, bus drivers are very, very limited in what they can do about problem kids. My bil was a new bus driver and 2 kids were fighting. (My bil can be very intimidating) As the one kid started to punch another kid, my bil put his own arm up to protect the child and the kid's fist hit my bil. The kid claimed my bil hit HIM and due to this, my bil made the front page of the paper, was harassed at home, had death threats by the parents, etc. It was horrible. The police had to have all their answering machine tapes.
They switched my bil to a different bus. On the new bus, there was a little girl who was lost and scared. My bil took her by the hand and walked her to her transfer bus, and he was harassed more, by parents "watching" him to do wrong. He learned very quickly that bus drivers attend to driving the bus, their job is not to interfere with the kids' behavior, they can only report to their boss what they might see happening. He found out that he should not look back(when stopped), except through the mirror and to mind his own business. It is sad, that it was his reality. He eventually just quit because it drove him nuts that he had no authority.
Hi K.
Bus companys let their drivers bring their children on the bus they drive . I am pretty sure they have insurance that covers their kids . It is to help their drivers because most daycares are not open when they need to start working . So I am guessing the bus company knows that the child is there .
hi i am a school bus driver and we are allowed to bring our kids with but if our kids dont behave they cant ride eather i would sugest you call the bus company and tell them the problem and have the school and any other parents do the same
It is my understanding that it is up to the individual bus company or school district. My district advertises that you can have your children with you when driving.
If I were in your shoes, I would get the number for transportation department at your school and raise the issue there. I think you would get the best result in that manor. If it were an attending school child in my district, the child would risk losing their bus privileges.
