I am about to go stark raving mad!!!! **RANT***

[Dar]

Quote:
Up untill about 3 years ago the bus companies did have a LOT of say about the rules and regs on a bus. But 3 years ago there was a shift in "power" their became such fierce competition for the contracts that the consortium had it in the contracts that they have the right to choose the driver, if a parent called and complained about the driver the consortium had the right to call the company and demand the termination of that employee... not just a change in driver... that driver was fired. they dictate what radio stations can be played (which can be a good thing) they completely run the bus companies. The only control that first student has is when the maintenance and repair of the vehicle is done.. that's it everything else is controlled by the consortium. When they (the school boards) decided on this consortium idea it ended the rights of the individual carrier and driver. Here we have STA (student transportation of America.. here its called STC) we have First student and a few little mom and pop companies but the consortium had chosen the contracts for the up coming school year and the mom and pop companies were all cut . Before the companies that did not like dealing with a certain school or go to a certain area, they simply did not bid on that contract, because they knew that there was another school board to go to ie. catholic or public... when they merged the transportation departments of the catholic and public boards it messed so much up. When the consortium chooses which companies will get the runs they go with the cheapest bidder. I know STC/STA lost 105 runs and has to do a mass layoff because they refused to fire a driver last year... the consortium has to much control and power.

ETA: I drove for both Frist student and STA/STC and when the consortium was established and we received the "new rules and regs" i turned my keys in right there at that start up meeting. I will not have some suit tell me thats its my fault that the kid threw a full container of yogurt at me, and I end up getting fired for being assaulted...see ya.. I am outta here (yes \\I was on a problem run where the highschool kids thought is was funny to coat the driver with food as they drove)

 

[ptig78d]

OMG!! That's a horrible situation! I'm sorry to hear that, Dar. I'd do the same thing that you did. We had some drivers, before the merger with FS, that quit b/c they didn't want to join the Union. A year and some later, I still don't see what the Union is doing...but I keep hearing that they are trying to get a national group of drivers and work on a national bargaining agreement/contract.
I'm going to college right now to get a degree in Criminal Justice, so I'm just a spare driver...but I have 2 kids (gr. 2nd and 8th) that take the bus. My little one rides along with me, then gets dropped off in the AM at Headstart once all the kids are off. Coincidentally, my last drop-off is the Kindergarten...which is in the same building, but opposite end, as Headstart classrooms. Of course, that's only if I doing a run in my town. Next week, I'm subbing on my old route, which is another town, so I'll leave my youngest here with Momma, and she'll have to take him into class.
Have a great weekend!

 

[redhen]

Wow Dar..i cant believe that general manager was so rude to you...ooh HE&& no! Dont back down...
And thats total BS..that its not your business what happens next.... ooh yes it IS your business! You DO have the right to know what steps were taken to ensure your childs safety on their bus...
want me to call him...? Grrrrrr!

 

[Buster52]

This stuff was routine when I was growing up in Texas. A young man was expected to stand up for himself and boys will be boys and all that. Real reason was the bus driver was scared. One day my big brother (Big Mike) showed up at school and schooled these grown men who had failed so much school they were still in it about proper manners. Had a talk with the bus driver as well, to the effect how about I jackslap you and you stand up for yourself?

That stopped it long enough for me to take up boxing. By the time it got out hand again, a couple of buttwhuppins was all it took to put a stop to it permanently. I made sure my son could box from the gitgo to make sure it never happened to him.

Point being this is in no way a "now days" thing.

 

[Dar]

Quote:
I will agree with you but only 1/2 way...LOL I know the problems with busing kids have been going on for as long as buses have been on the road BUT the fact that the driver has no weight to protect my kid is wrong

I am a firm believer of "well punch him back" guy or girl if you are big enough to dish it , you had better be big enough to take it.. My DD will beat the crap out of her brother and in turn he will hit her back... and no i dont let it get to far but it brings home the message of there will be someone bigger some where some day.

But today even if a kid is just sticking up for himself he will be punished too. My older DS was jumped by 3 kids at school (they were in grade 10 so fair fight) well all 3 boys (mine included) were called into the office and suspended. I made a point of questioning why my ds was being suspended even though there was 3 other teachers that came forward and said my ds was only standing up for himself and really didnt even throw a punch just blocked and wrestled with a few but cause he did not walk away he was suspended too... so darned if you do and darned if you dont

 

[agnes_day]

that is so true!
my other son was suspended for fighting back against a group of boys..i asked the office what he was supposed to do and they said wait and tell an adult..i guess hes supposed to just stand there and get beat up in the mean time.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Oh, I fully expect to be punished if caught. One day in high school I was walking down the hall between classes when a guy who outweighed me by about 70 pounds just reached out and slapped me for no reason. So, I proceeded to bounce punches off his head and in the lull before I started my next combination someone in the gathering crowd mentioned I was a Golden Gloves boxer. Which made him drop both his hands and his jaw, and that was all the opportunity I needed to drop him.

Teacher escorted us both to the office (my assailant seemed pleased with the interruption of festivities) where I explained what happened and took the same amount of "licks" as him. The principal seemed reluctant to deliver the punishment but rules are rules, and I knew full well what they were. I earned the licks, but earned the principal's respect along with them.

Our bully cried when he got his. Those things left blisters.

When he returned to class the teacher razzed him something fierce. He was a known bully and it is always satisfying to see such people receive their just reward.

 

[PineappleMama]

^ Yeah but it really sticks in my throat to see both kids punished equally.... what does that teach?

You get punished whether you do the right thing or the wrong thing... so, why bother doing the right thing?

School is supposed to teach you what you need to survive & thrive in the big bad world...
Teaching kids that you may as well do the wrong thing 'cuz you're gonna get punished anyways is NOT a good start IMHO.

Just a personal pet peeve.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
I'm not saying I did the right thing. I did what I considered the necessary thing. Some people only understand one language, and I think he was one of them. However, retaliation is what gets us gang wars.

The right thing would have been to report him and let the teacher handle it.

 

[herfrds]

The last year I rode a school bus the driver was a witch. she would leave me at the stop if I was just 10 seconds from being there, running down the road. The next year I went to a different school and rode a city bus. Well this driver was still driving a bus by me and every morning someone in the back of the bus threw an apple at me.
I reported it to my principle. He told me to contact the bus supervisor, which I did. My principle also contacted him. He went out and saw where the apples were. The driver was repremanded and the bus riders could not ride with their windows as long as I was at that stop.

Start climbing the chain of command. Go in and talk to these people and take notes of what they say.