[Jetasmom]

I don't want anyone to get in trouble, etc. so I am purposely being vague here.

Is it really ok to let a "YOUNG" child off at a bus stop that is not attended by an adult if the parent/guardian makes a request?

Who would be held responsible (scape-goat) if the child was hit by a car, fell and became injured, was abducted, or became lost whether the bus has left of not?

I thought school policy states that if no one is present to receive a young child, that child would be returned to school.

In some cases, I don't think exceptions should be allowed -- this being one of them. Our children are too vulnerable to take that kind of risk.

[~Chester~]

I guess it depends on how far away the child's house is.

[Jetasmom]

!PanVet!, on 08 December 2011 - 09:12 AM, said:

I guess it depends on how far away the child's house is.

Even so, if no adult is visible, I don't think they should be allowed to get off. I've seen plenty wait on porches, in open doors, etc.

If the bus driver dropped my child off and got to the door it would be locked. Even though I was raised as a "latch-key" kid, mine isn't.

Stuff happens every day that would prevent me from getting my child off the bus. I feel safer knowing they will be taken back to school.

NOTE: This doesn't involve my child at all.

[K96W8]

Things may have changed since then--but when my kid who is 21 started kindergarten he rode the bus and they did not have to make sure to see an adult. The driver would forget to drop him off when she came by the first time and come back later, or drop him off at the stop past our house. The last time he rode the bus he was dropped off before our house. I became one of those crazy car rider line moms until he could drive himself.

If they took every child back when the driver didn't see an adult I imagine adults wouldn't worry about letting the school know when plans changed. That would waste a lot of bus driver's time and end up costing a lot.

[Jetasmom]

I understand your point, but on my kid's bus they actually drive back by our house a 2nd time (they do anyway going back to the hs). If no one is out there, they are supposed to take my kid to school.

Protocols are different now. As I said before, I was a latch-key kid. I don't even think our door was locked as I don't remember having a key.

Now there is more traffic, sex offenders, strangers, unexpected health issues, etc....just too many things can happen to risk your child's safety. If they have to take the child back to school, it is my understanding that the parent would have to pay an after-care fee. Fine with me. They could also remove the child's bus privileges if they are repeat offenders.

[HappyToBe]

I don't know what age you are referring to, but the elementary school but doesn't even come down our road, it just picks up/drops off at the end of the road. Doesn't seem to matter what age the kids are, they just have to walk the entire road whether there is an adult or not (never seems to be one there anyway). I don't think it is right or safe for the kids to have to walk all that way, but I don't have little ones and my opinion is my own. Hope everyone is safe.

[Jetasmom]

We actually live on a main road and the bus stops at our house, so I don't know about subdivision protocols, etc. I think they should have adults or at least someone there to make sure the kid is safe before driving away.

Guess it will take something horrific happening to fix the problem.

[jdb1985]

I don't think there is a set rule. We had bus drivers in the past who did not pay any attention at all. Our current driver will not let the kids off if anything looks out of the ordinary. I alway inform her if there is going to be a differnt car in my driveway. She is very careful with our children and I appreciate it.

[LGM]

When I signed mini-me up for Kindergarten (she's in first grade now), I got a 'bus letter' type thing that had the rules for bus transportation. One of the rules was that an adult had to be visible when the child is dropped off or they will be returned to school. This was just a year and a half ago.

That being said - she is dropped off about a football field away, and I haven't been visible to the bus driver in at least a year, though someone is almost always watching for her as the bus can be heard from inside. She just drops her off up the street and she walks home.

[hotwheels]

LGM, on 08 December 2011 - 10:53 AM, said:

When I signed mini-me up for Kindergarten (she's in first grade now), I got a 'bus letter' type thing that had the rules for bus transportation. One of the rules was that an adult had to be visible when the child is dropped off or they will be returned to school. This was just a year and a half ago.

That being said - she is dropped off about a football field away, and I haven't been visible to the bus driver in at least a year, though someone is almost always watching for her as the bus can be heard from inside. She just drops her off up the street and she walks home.

I have been a bus driver in this county for 9 years and have never seen anything from the Transportation Department's rules stating this. Perhaps this was something your individual school typed up and gave out without transportation's approval.

I have some elementary age students who are received by a visable parent every single day and I do not release those students without seeing that parent. If the parent is not there, I return the student to school. On the other hand, most students are not received by a parent and they just get off the bus. I have had students ride my bus for several years and have never laid eyes on a parent. It's a shame but a driver can only do so much to ensure safety; parents should do their part. Unfortunately, many don't. Children age 9 or older are allowed to be home alone.

[LGM]

hotwheels, on 08 December 2011 - 11:32 AM, said:

I have been a bus driver in this county for 9 years and have never seen anything from the Transportation Department's rules stating this. Perhaps this was something your individual school typed up and gave out without transportation's approval.

I have some elementary age students who are received by a visable parent every single day and I do not release those students without seeing that parent. If the parent is not there, I return the student to school. On the other hand, most students are not received by a parent and they just get off the bus. I have had students ride my bus for several years and have never laid eyes on a parent. It's a shame but a driver can only do so much to ensure safety; parents should do their part. Unfortunately, many don't. Children age 9 or older are allowed to be home alone.

I didn't say it was a transportation department rule. I just said I got a letter telling me to be out there where they could see me or I'd have to go pick her up at the school.

I also didn't mean to come across as thinking the bus driver was negligent or not following rules in anyway - I was just stating our situation. Personally, I'm glad I can just watch out the window and don't have to walk all the way to the bus stop.

[griffin2]

Shouldn't parents be the responsible person for a child, not the bus driver, teacher, principal, neighbor, etc. If a bus driver waited to see a parent at every stop or take the child back to school, everyone would be home by midnight or still at school.

[Oh No Its Me]

My kids driver is amazing. She won't let them go unless a parent (or adult) is visible. Maybe for the older kids (4th and 5th grade) she doesn't but I know she does that for the younger kids.

[Spunkywman]

I am a driver also and I watch as many students as I can to see if a parent is home. I have taken kids back to the school when I do see there is no one home or a parent who is normally at the bus stop is not there. I try to check twice before taking them back. I also have student that I rarely see a parent. We do the best we can.

[Orwell]

Can you imagine the time delays if you have to personally get every child to the door or find a parent? I read the complaints all the time about issues with drivers but at some point the parents have to handle some of the issues.

[Jetasmom]

Orwell, on 13 December 2011 - 12:18 PM, said:

Can you imagine the time delays if you have to personally get every child to the door or find a parent? I read the complaints all the time about issues with drivers but at some point the parents have to handle some of the issues.

No, I can't. I agree that bus drivers should not have the responsibility to see a child to "a door". I'm talking about as the child exits the bus there should be a responsible person to receive that child. Many times I have hauled my baby/toddler/pre-k child down the driveway to receive my child. I don't sit on a porch or watch through a window for the bus. I am there waiting. Even if I lived in a subdivision, I would be there or I would designate a specific person to get my child of the bus. There are other options for these parent such as after-care, which is provided at most if not all of the elementary schools. There is also daycare available.

If a parent is not there, return the child to school and (unless there are serious extenuating circumstances) charge the parent. For repeat offenders, take the child off of the bus.

There are too many things that can happen to that child to risk their safety. I can't understand why any parent would.

Not directing this question at you Orwell....If a child is left alone in a car, the parent can be charged with child endangerment, among other things, for leaving the child unattended. What's the difference between that and allowing a child who can't be left unattended at home until at least age 9 IF that child is mature enough to handle it to exit a bus alone and go home to a potentially empty house?

Quote

Children in the Custody of a Parent/Guardian/Custodian
Use the following guidelines for determining if lack of supervision exists when children are alone without adult supervision.
1. Children eight years or younger should not be left alone;
2. Children between the ages of nine years and twelve years, based on level of maturity, may be left alone for brief (less than two hours) periods of time; and,
3. Children thirteen years and older, who are at an adequate level of maturity, may be left alone and may perform the role of babysitter, as authorized by the parent, for up to twelve hours. Ga. Dfac's link

[Orwell]

Realistically, most parents are at work when the child comes home. The bus driver may have up to 60 kids on a bus. They may let several kids out at a stop. They cannot keep up with every individual child.
I have watched what happens in our neighborhood and several kids are let out at a corner and they go their separate ways to get home. For every five or six kids, I may see one parent. I have watched my neighbor sit on his porch and wait for his five year to walk the half block, over the hill , to get home. Some of the kids walk two or three blocks.

[Just thinkin' hard]

This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Are you kidding me? You think that the bus driver to insure that you are visible to them before letting your kid off. That's just plain dumb. This is why my girlfriend had her kids returned to the school WHEN SHE WAS HOME because her car was the in shop. The kids didn't know that the car was the in shop. The bus driver assumed she wasn't home and took them back to school. So, because her car was the in shop, her husband had to take time off from work - spend two hours driving to school to get them, take them home, and then go back to work. The school threatened to call DFACS if this happened too much. And, the kids kept telling the bus driver that Mom and Dad had told them they could go on in.

This is RIDICULOUS. It's no wonder our children can't take care of themselves or think for themselves. Some of us are expecting the school to even get them to the door without having to think. There is no reason that I can't leave my child home to get in the back door for the two or three minutes that I might have been late. Or that they went to the neighbor's house instead of going to our house. I'M the parent. I should be making those decisions. Not a bus driver that may or may not have any idea of what is going on. Folks - let your kids grow up. Let them try out the little things - going home without mom on the front porch every single time to test them to be sure that they come straight home. Start teaching them to be able to stay home alone by starting with a five or ten minutes after the bus gets home. Start letting them use a key - teach them which neighbor and when to get the bus drivers help. Stop making your children helpless and unable to make decisions.

[Jetasmom]

Just thinkin, on 18 December 2011 - 07:29 PM, said:

This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Are you kidding me? You think that the bus driver to insure that you are visible to them before letting your kid off. That's just plain dumb. This is why my girlfriend had her kids returned to the school WHEN SHE WAS HOME because her car was the in shop. The kids didn't know that the car was the in shop. The bus driver assumed she wasn't home and took them back to school. So, because her car was the in shop, her husband had to take time off from work - spend two hours driving to school to get them, take them home, and then go back to work. The school threatened to call DFACS if this happened too much. And, the kids kept telling the bus driver that Mom and Dad had told them they could go on in.

This is RIDICULOUS. It's no wonder our children can't take care of themselves or think for themselves. Some of us are expecting the school to even get them to the door without having to think. There is no reason that I can't leave my child home to get in the back door for the two or three minutes that I might have been late. Or that they went to the neighbor's house instead of going to our house. I'M the parent. I should be making those decisions. Not a bus driver that may or may not have any idea of what is going on. Folks - let your kids grow up. Let them try out the little things - going home without mom on the front porch every single time to test them to be sure that they come straight home. Start teaching them to be able to stay home alone by starting with a five or ten minutes after the bus gets home. Start letting them use a key - teach them which neighbor and when to get the bus drivers help. Stop making your children helpless and unable to make decisions.

You are allowed to have your opinion and so am I. I am sure if something bad had happened to her child, she would have been all over the bus driver, school system, etc. for putting her child at risk, just as I would have.

I have had to pick my children up at school, had to pay for aftercare, the inconvenience of having to drive, etc. Guess what? It was my fault for not being there. Not the schools' or my neighbor or the bus driver who did her job of protecting my child(ren).

I stand by my words. If a parent can be held legally liable for child endangerment for leaving a child 8 or younger unattended, I feel the school system should uphold the law and not risk the liability.

[Just thinkin' hard]

Jetasmom, on 19 December 2011 - 09:33 PM, said:

You are allowed to have your opinion and so am I. I am sure if something bad had happened to her child, she would have been all over the bus driver, school system, etc. for putting her child at risk, just as I would have.

I have had to pick my children up at school, had to pay for aftercare, the inconvenience of having to drive, etc. Guess what? It was my fault for not being there. Not the schools' or my neighbor or the bus driver who did her job of protecting my child(ren).

I stand by my words. If a parent can be held legally liable for child endangerment for leaving a child 8 or younger unattended, I feel the school system should uphold the law and not risk the liability.

Thank you for respecting my opinion. I truly believe that, and let me say - I have two boys - this may have skewed my view of the world, that part of the reason that we are seeing increase on person on person crime (rape, assuault, car jackings, etc) is because we are too overprotective of our children. In an effort to be sure that the absolute worst doesn't happen, we are protecting them from way, way too many life lessons. I don't think that in general our children learn to think about their surroudings, they don't learn to listen to their internal radar, and they don't learn to this about the consequences of their actions. These lessons are learned by a progressive increase in allowing them to have personal responsibility. They need to walk to the bus stop. They need to be fussed out by the neighbor for cutting through their yard. They need to learn to ride their bikes down the street. I'm not saying hang them out to dry. But, I'm saying that there needs to be a systematic increase in their personal responsibilities with tests along the way. They won't always get it right. They're not supposed to - they're children. But, if we don't teach our children to take care of themselves, then they're never going to learn to. And, that means that we have college kids walking into frat parties never realizing the inherent dangers. We have teenagers driving that don't understand why they need to slow down or why they need to stay out of certain neighborhoods. They don't learn to listen to their radar to get themselves out of situations or to get themselves help. As a female in male dominated industries and hobbies, teaching self protection and self awareness is very, very important to me.

And, I've been questioned - did you know your oldest..... - did you know your youngest... - Yep - I did. I was watching - and I did see you fuss at them. And, that lesson will be much, much more impressive to them coming you instead of me.

I just hear of too many instances amongst my friends (I have school choiced kids - riding the bus isn't an issue at my house - and mine are in middle and high school - the bus driver sure as He** better not take those kids back to school) that their kids are getting taken back to school when they are home, when things are the same that they normally are, that even with a note stating to leave their kids at home - the bus driver is deciding not to. Bus drivers are not paid enough or trained enough to be making these kinds of decisions that can cost families huge amounts of time and money because a bus driver assumed something that they didn't know anything about.

[Jetasmom]

Just thinkin, on 20 December 2011 - 06:33 AM, said:

Thank you for respecting my opinion. I truly believe that, and let me say - I have two boys - this may have skewed my view of the world, that part of the reason that we are seeing increase on person on person crime (rape, assuault, car jackings, etc) is because we are too overprotective of our children. In an effort to be sure that the absolute worst doesn't happen, we are protecting them from way, way too many life lessons. I don't think that in general our children learn to think about their surroudings, they don't learn to listen to their internal radar, and they don't learn to this about the consequences of their actions. These lessons are learned by a progressive increase in allowing them to have personal responsibility. They need to walk to the bus stop. They need to be fussed out by the neighbor for cutting through their yard. They need to learn to ride their bikes down the street. I'm not saying hang them out to dry. But, I'm saying that there needs to be a systematic increase in their personal responsibilities with tests along the way. They won't always get it right. They're not supposed to - they're children. But, if we don't teach our children to take care of themselves, then they're never going to learn to. And, that means that we have college kids walking into frat parties never realizing the inherent dangers. We have teenagers driving that don't understand why they need to slow down or why they need to stay out of certain neighborhoods. They don't learn to listen to their radar to get themselves out of situations or to get themselves help. As a female in male dominated industries and hobbies, teaching self protection and self awareness is very, very important to me.

And, I've been questioned - did you know your oldest..... - did you know your youngest... - Yep - I did. I was watching - and I did see you fuss at them. And, that lesson will be much, much more impressive to them coming you instead of me.

I just hear of too many instances amongst my friends (I have school choiced kids - riding the bus isn't an issue at my house - and mine are in middle and high school - the bus driver sure as He** better not take those kids back to school) that their kids are getting taken back to school when they are home, when things are the same that they normally are, that even with a note stating to leave their kids at home - the bus driver is deciding not to. Bus drivers are not paid enough or trained enough to be making these kinds of decisions that can cost families huge amounts of time and money because a bus driver assumed something that they didn't know anything about.

I agree with most of your points. 3rd grade on, I expected my kids to come up to the house whether I was there or not. And there were times I wasn't there. But I am talking about our littlest kids. Although, many or some parents, may teach their children about being safe and emergencies, not enough do. By that I mean all. So you teach your child what to do if someone grabs them, if no adult is nearby to help them, they will be gone no matter how hard they fight back. They are too little not be carried in an instant.

Will a little kid really think it is unsafe to not reach down under the bus to grab his folder before the bus rolls over it? or not to chase a bus he left his jacket on. Most know it is dangerous, but I'm not willing to risk it.

My five year old and I walk down our long driveway to the bus every morning. Sometimes I am slow. I yell "freeze" and she had better stop where she is. I do this several times before she reaches the bottom. She knows she has to listen and she knows that when she does reach the bottom she has a stopping place so she is not close to road. You have no idea how many driver's blow past the school bus stop sign, not even slowing down. They had better take my child back to school if her daddy doesn't make it down to the driveway.

We live on a busy road, so I am very conscience of the dangers. I grew up in a quiet neighborhood and walked around the block, played (and got lost) in the woods down the road, and walked the railroad tracks when I was feeling brave. I even had a mysterious car that my brother dared me to go up to, and then yanked me back and yelled at me when I actually began to take the dare. Now there are more (and faster) cars on the road and a boatload of more people. I plan to teach my kids to be safe and think for themselves, while not purposely adding to the risk.

[Just thinkin' hard]

Jetasmom, on 20 December 2011 - 07:39 AM, said:

I agree with most of your points. 3rd grade on, I expected my kids to come up to the house whether I was there or not. And there were times I wasn't there. But I am talking about our littlest kids. Although, many or some parents, may teach their children about being safe and emergencies, not enough do. By that I mean all. So you teach your child what to do if someone grabs them, if no adult is nearby to help them, they will be gone no matter how hard they fight back. They are too little not be carried in an instant.

Will a little kid really think it is unsafe to not reach down under the bus to grab his folder before the bus rolls over it? or not to chase a bus he left his jacket on. Most know it is dangerous, but I'm not willing to risk it.

My five year old and I walk down our long driveway to the bus every morning. Sometimes I am slow. I yell "freeze" and she had better stop where she is. I do this several times before she reaches the bottom. She knows she has to listen and she knows that when she does reach the bottom she has a stopping place so she is not close to road. You have no idea how many driver's blow past the school bus stop sign, not even slowing down. They had better take my child back to school if her daddy doesn't make it down to the driveway.

We live on a busy road, so I am very conscience of the dangers. I grew up in a quiet neighborhood and walked around the block, played (and got lost) in the woods down the road, and walked the railroad tracks when I was feeling brave. I even had a mysterious car that my brother dared me to go up to, and then yanked me back and yelled at me when I actually began to take the dare. Now there are more (and faster) cars on the road and a boatload of more people. I plan to teach my kids to be safe and think for themselves, while not purposely adding to the risk.

! We're on the same page. Just taking different approaches. And, that my dear, is exactly love this place. I started earlier than you did - mostly because my boys were taking risks alot earlier. I did the same thing with the "freeze" game. Still do and they're 15 and 12. There are just so many factors in that decision that I hate for a blanket "do not let a ..... off without a parent visible" rule. My friend has three kids - the oldest in 5th grade. There was no reason not to let them off the bus that day. That's what I don't like about blanket policies like that. It gives the bus driver/the parents/the kids no discretion in the situation.

[Jetasmom]

Just thinkin, on 20 December 2011 - 07:43 AM, said:

! We're on the same page. Just taking different approaches. And, that my dear, is exactly love this place. I started earlier than you did - mostly because my boys were taking risks alot earlier. I did the same thing with the "freeze" game. Still do and they're 15 and 12. There are just so many factors in that decision that I hate for a blanket "do not let a ..... off without a parent visible" rule. My friend has three kids - the oldest in 5th grade. There was no reason not to let them off the bus that day. That's what I don't like about blanket policies like that. It gives the bus driver/the parents/the kids no discretion in the situation.

I agree, with the older children the driver should have left all off. I would have been aggravated too, but I always made (and still do) a point to talk to the bus driver and have an understanding.

[gog8tors]

I didn't have any of these issues. With older two we either lived right across the street or close enough for the kids to walk. With 6th grader I drove him to school, and picked him up or he went to ASP. He didn't want to start riding the bus till last year. I guess it helps that the bus picks him up and drops him off right in front of the house.

There is just no way I would let my 5yo ride the bus.

[Just thinkin' hard]

Jetasmom, on 20 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

I agree, with the older children the driver should have left all off. I would have been aggravated too, but I always made (and still do) a point to talk to the bus driver and have an understanding.

The funny thing is - she did do that. She thought she had an understanding. Once she finally caught up with the bus driver, the bus driver would only repeat the policy over and over. It was self resolving as my friend soon after got a job and her kids went to boys and girls club every afternoon.

[P.C. Shopper]

I've had it happen both ways, here.

1) I was sitting at home waiting on my kids...they never arrived . I figured the bus was just running a little late. Well, about 1/2 hour "late", I get a phone call, from the school that my kids were returned to school cause I wasn't home . I most certainly was home, and my trucks were in the drive. I am set back off the road, so, I guess the driver just thought that I wasn't here. I was angry at the time cause it was a hassle to have to stop working and go get the kids.


2) I get off work early one day a week, so, I am home and the kids like to ride the bus. Well, this particular day, school was dismissed 1 hour early, which meant that should have gone to daycare, since I get home by 2:30, not 1:30 . The bus driver didn't see my car, so, she took them back to school. I was soooooo embarrassed that time. The girls would have known what to do, had they been let off, but, the driver was kind enough to "watch over" them, when I slacked on my responsiblities .

Would I be mad if the driver dropped my kids off without me home? Probably, but, after the smoke of my hard headedness settles, I would realize it was my own fault. It's not their responsiblity to make sure I am home, it's their responsiblity to make sure they arrive to their home safe! It's MY responsibility once they get off the bus, and to make sure my kids know what to do incase I'm NOT home. Sometimes "things" happen (stuck in traffic, pulled over,just plain out don't pay attention to the fact that school is out 1 hr early ), we are human...however, my kids know what to do in that situation, should it arise.



**side note/question/food for though**

SITUATION #1 - "You" aren't going to be home to get lil Johnny off the bus today. So, you make arrangements to have a friend out at the road to pick your child up...bus driver let's kid off bus with friend, no big deal. Child's home safe and sound. You expect the driver to allow the child off with your friend and would probably be upset if you made plans w/ a friend and the driver would let the child off the bus, and you had to come back from appt/vacation or whatever, to pick child up from the school cause they were returned.

SITUATION #2 - Week after above scenario, you are running "late". You are just a few minutes away, this is totally unexpected, you got stuck behind the clearing of a wreck, got pulled over, or whatever the scenario is. You have no time for "friend" to get there, they live 15 minues away. Long strech here... there is a "stranger/abductor" at the bus stop...bus driver lets kid off bus to stranger/abductor. (for drama/arguments sake, lets say that stranger isn't acting strange and "little johnny" doesn't say it's a stranger, etc) child is now abducted. Is this the bus drivers fault? Of course "you" would blame the driver, however, just a week before you allowed/expected teh driver to let your child off the bus, to what the driver knew as a 'stranger"...how is the driver to know that the abductor isn't a friend too?

Situation #2 is obviously just drama based (hopefully), but, what I'm trying to get at is that the drivers are in a no win situation. I give drivers ALOT of credit. MOST go above and beyond to get the kids from school, to their drives safely...hard work, low pay.

This post has been edited by P.C. Shopper: 24 December 2011 - 07:11 AM

[Just thinkin' hard]

P.C. Shopper, on 24 December 2011 - 07:08 AM, said:

I've had it happen both ways, here.

1) I was sitting at home waiting on my kids...they never arrived . I figured the bus was just running a little late. Well, about 1/2 hour "late", I get a phone call, from the school that my kids were returned to school cause I wasn't home . I most certainly was home, and my trucks were in the drive. I am set back off the road, so, I guess the driver just thought that I wasn't here. I was angry at the time cause it was a hassle to have to stop working and go get the kids.


2) I get off work early one day a week, so, I am home and the kids like to ride the bus. Well, this particular day, school was dismissed 1 hour early, which meant that should have gone to daycare, since I get home by 2:30, not 1:30 . The bus driver didn't see my car, so, she took them back to school. I was soooooo embarrassed that time. The girls would have known what to do, had they been let off, but, the driver was kind enough to "watch over" them, when I slacked on my responsiblities .

Would I be mad if the driver dropped my kids off without me home? Probably, but, after the smoke of my hard headedness settles, I would realize it was my own fault. It's not their responsiblity to make sure I am home, it's their responsiblity to make sure they arrive to their home safe! It's MY responsibility once they get off the bus, and to make sure my kids know what to do incase I'm NOT home. Sometimes "things" happen (stuck in traffic, pulled over,just plain out don't pay attention to the fact that school is out 1 hr early ), we are human...however, my kids know what to do in that situation, should it arise.



**side note/question/food for though**

SITUATION #1 - "You" aren't going to be home to get lil Johnny off the bus today. So, you make arrangements to have a friend out at the road to pick your child up...bus driver let's kid off bus with friend, no big deal. Child's home safe and sound. You expect the driver to allow the child off with your friend and would probably be upset if you made plans w/ a friend and the driver would let the child off the bus, and you had to come back from appt/vacation or whatever, to pick child up from the school cause they were returned.

SITUATION #2 - Week after above scenario, you are running "late". You are just a few minutes away, this is totally unexpected, you got stuck behind the clearing of a wreck, got pulled over, or whatever the scenario is. You have no time for "friend" to get there, they live 15 minues away. Long strech here... there is a "stranger/abductor" at the bus stop...bus driver lets kid off bus to stranger/abductor. (for drama/arguments sake, lets say that stranger isn't acting strange and "little johnny" doesn't say it's a stranger, etc) child is now abducted. Is this the bus drivers fault? Of course "you" would blame the driver, however, just a week before you allowed/expected teh driver to let your child off the bus, to what the driver knew as a 'stranger"...how is the driver to know that the abductor isn't a friend too?

Situation #2 is obviously just drama based (hopefully), but, what I'm trying to get at is that the drivers are in a no win situation. I give drivers ALOT of credit. MOST go above and beyond to get the kids from school, to their drives safely...hard work, low pay.

My only thing with situation 2 is that the child should have pitched an all holy fit about going with a stranger. A child should be taught from a very, very early age never to go with a stranger. I did teach my kids which uniforms to go with - that could have gotten us in trouble. But, I've always pointed out a safe place for them to go (like at an amusement park) and what that place's uniforms look like.

[P.C. Shopper]

Just thinkin, on 24 December 2011 - 07:17 AM, said:

My only thing with situation 2 is that the child should have pitched an all holy fit about going with a stranger. A child should be taught from a very, very early age never to go with a stranger. I did teach my kids which uniforms to go with - that could have gotten us in trouble. But, I've always pointed out a safe place for them to go (like at an amusement park) and what that place's uniforms look like.

I know, lol....situation was very far fetched, but, I was it for arguments sake....no matter what a driver does, it can be a no win situation. We (parents) need to take the responsibility, at some point

I too, taught my kids about the uniforms/cars/etc to go to in an emergency, but, have since recanted because of the people dressing up as police (etc) and abducting . Scary. All we, as parents can do is teach our kids, hope they listened.learned and will act on that knowledge.

[Just thinkin' hard]

P.C. Shopper, on 24 December 2011 - 07:55 AM, said:

I know, lol....situation was very far fetched, but, I was it for arguments sake....no matter what a driver does, it can be a no win situation. We (parents) need to take the responsibility, at some point

I too, taught my kids about the uniforms/cars/etc to go to in an emergency, but, have since recanted because of the people dressing up as police (etc) and abducting . Scary. All we, as parents can do is teach our kids, hope they listened.learned and will act on that knowledge.

Amen, sister. Amen. As parents - that's all we can do - do our best as parents each and every time (and realize that our best at that moment may not be THE best) and move on. My kids and my scouts all amaze me - they seem like they're not paying a bit of attention, but later on, they prove that they were. My youngest did something dumb on a backpacking trip - he went onto a different trail because it was easier. This is a huge NO-NO. What if something had happened? No one knew where they should be. But, away from him, he proved that he could read a typographical map. He could make decisions about what might be easier (if one of his fellow scouts had been hurt - this would have been a great option). And, to always leave a note when you leave the trail for the rest of the group behind you. That's one thing I like about scouting - it lets us test them in borderline safe environments to see what they will do. ! They haven't let me down yet.