I have been sitting on this for a few days now, because I was not sure how to deal with it. At first I was surprised and then I was enraged and now I am determined. Here's what happened:
My child now goes to/from school on a school bus in their first year of grade 1. Initially I was against this but there is no way I can get both my kids to school on time without the bus. I resisted but the school assured me that the driver only lets kids on the list onto the bus, and only lets them off at their stop if the child can see someone waiting for them, and knows who that person is. I decided to try it.
My child went to school for 4 days on the bus and was picked up from after care - no problems. The fifth day my child went home on the bus, as per the schedule. The bus arrived at our stop 10 minutes early. My wife was not there yet but two other moms were. Three others kids got off the bus along with my child. The driver did not make sure there was a recognizable person waiting for my child.
One mother left without realizing what happened while the other one saw my kid looking around for mommy. This mother sent her kids to play with mine at the bus stop and waited 5 minutes until my wife arrived. She explained what happened and we were obviously very thankful for her being there to save my kid from the wonders of city life.
I can't help but wonder how my kid was feeling - alone at the stop the first time being dropped off. I wonder WTF the driver was thinking? Most importantly is what would have happened if BOTH the waiting parents had not noticed and my kid was completely alone on the city corner?
I saw the driver each day this week and I tried to mention this to her, but I did not feel I could have done so without traumatizing the other kids on the bus, or making her hate me so much she might treat my kid poorly. I called the school and left a message outlining this and asked for a call back, but they have not yet.
My child now goes to/from school on a school bus in their first year of grade 1. Initially I was against this but there is no way I can get both my kids to school on time without the bus. I resisted but the school assured me that the driver only lets kids on the list onto the bus, and only lets them off at their stop if the child can see someone waiting for them, and knows who that person is. I decided to try it.
My child went to school for 4 days on the bus and was picked up from after care - no problems. The fifth day my child went home on the bus, as per the schedule. The bus arrived at our stop 10 minutes early. My wife was not there yet but two other moms were. Three others kids got off the bus along with my child. The driver did not make sure there was a recognizable person waiting for my child.
One mother left without realizing what happened while the other one saw my kid looking around for mommy. This mother sent her kids to play with mine at the bus stop and waited 5 minutes until my wife arrived. She explained what happened and we were obviously very thankful for her being there to save my kid from the wonders of city life.
I can't help but wonder how my kid was feeling - alone at the stop the first time being dropped off. I wonder WTF the driver was thinking? Most importantly is what would have happened if BOTH the waiting parents had not noticed and my kid was completely alone on the city corner?
I saw the driver each day this week and I tried to mention this to her, but I did not feel I could have done so without traumatizing the other kids on the bus, or making her hate me so much she might treat my kid poorly. I called the school and left a message outlining this and asked for a call back, but they have not yet.
AIM: GrouchyGfy
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