The Short Bus

I never liked the short bus. I didn't ride in one, but all through school kids teased me about how I belonged on the short bus. My dislike grew from the fact it was synonymous with retard, and when kids said, You should be riding the short bus, they were really calling you a retard. Well I needed to get past this stigma because I had to set up transportation to get Gretchen to and from school. This morning the short bus stopped in front of my house.

No I did not tell Gretchen what kids called the short bus when I was going to school. I don't think kids see it the same today. Not because kids have grown kinder, it's more due to the fact they rarely see a short bus. Rachael said she never noticed one going to the middle school. I'm thinking this is because they arrive after all the other kids have been dropped off. We were given a pick up time of 7:35 this morning. The bus was 15 minutes late. When the driver came, he told me, I'm not going to make a 7:35 pick up. I'm dropping kids off at the elementary school at 7:40. Hmm... The elementary school starts at 7:40, no wonder we've never noticed the short bus.

My hubby thinks it makes sense. Since it takes extra time to unload students, the bus gets there after the morning rush. I'm not too sure. Especially with our elementary school. It did not get the A+ rating because too many tardies. Right at start time is when that parking lot is the most hectic. And this year the school starts 20 minutes earlier than when our girls went there. I doubt the tardy arrivals have improved. In fact the neighbors a couple doors down from us are usually piling the kids in the car right at 7:40, I know they're late more often than not. One reason I enjoyed when the girls were old enough to take themselves to school, I could kick them out the door on time without worrying about making myself presentable. When they were younger, and I walked to school with them, there were a couple mornings I noticed my shirt on inside out or backwards as I was walking home.

Poor Gretchen was out front freezing this morning. But now that I have a more accurate pick up time, I won't go out front with her as early. Wondering how accurate dispatch was for drop off time this afternoon. We shall see...

Comments: 19

Joann B. Jan 14, 2013, 11:16am UTC

I think we've all spent some time on the short bus.

Veronica Hosking Jan 14, 2013, 11:35am UTC

Lol! Shhh... I won't tell if you don't.

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JOHN BECK Jan 14, 2013, 12:25pm UTC

The school our kids went to didn't have a short bus. When we lived in town our sons were in the early grades; they walked to school but without a parent walking with them.

Veronica Hosking Jan 14, 2013, 2:00pm UTC

Yes the grammar school here is a "walking" school. They still have to offer bussing to special needs kids thanks to the 1973 Americans with disabilities act. As for Gretchen she is now bussed as the middle school is more than 2 miles from the house. We had to set up a 504 plan to get the special bus. Even still with helicopter parents the amount who drive their kids to school is a lot.

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Kevin E. Jan 14, 2013, 1:00pm UTC

As one who has spent most of his careeer greeting the short bus in the mroning and in the evening and as one who sometimes rides the short bus I can assure you that my attention was very much on your post. The short bus or sometimes the long bus but always the bus with the lift has been known to arrive at my schools up to 60 minutes early and up to 90 minutes late. This happens because of mechanical breakdown with the bus or the lift. It also can happen because of medical issues including but limiting to seizures. Sometimes our students wait until the bus arrives to show symptoms of physical ilness and then cleaning up is required. It happens also because some parents begin their day on a very difficult note and do not have their student ready for the bus rider.

I am not sure why but I almost never get car sick in a car but it is fairly commen for me to get bus sick when i am rding the sort bus/bus witha lift. My deepest respect for parents, bus riders and especially our bus drivers.

Veronica Hosking Jan 14, 2013, 1:55pm UTC

I totally agree about the bus drivers. As with teachers, their job seems so under appreciated these days. And I totally understood when the driver explained why he was late. The depot must think he's a miracle worker if he can be in two places at once. And you know parents not getting kids ready on time, I totally blame parents. The amount of tardies at the elementary school is way too high. They're more than just the special needs students being late. What does that tell your kids when you don't make sure they get out the door in time to arrive at school on time?

Kevin E. Jan 14, 2013, 3:03pm UTC

Before I forget to tell you, I think you are quite a lady!

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Kevin E. Jan 14, 2013, 3:04pm UTC

Usually I agree with you but let me give you an example of when the parent(s) have to be excused. "As everyone is getting ready for school one child spills milk on a favorite outfit their lucky Monday outfit andsits down in the mess crying. This upsets a brother who is already grouchy from coming down with a cold. he pushes a younger brother off a chair who lands on the cat's tail. Both cry and scream. The cat in it's hurry to get out the door comes face to face with the dog and scratches his nose. He chases the cat who knocks a class project off of the table scattering pieces of it eveywhere causing more screams and cries. In the din the sound of the short bus' horn goes off..................................... my depest symapthy to everyone on a day like that.

Veronica Hosking Jan 14, 2013, 3:12pm UTC

This is why I only had 2 kids. Also why we get up a 6AM allowing extra time for mishaps. Like rachael's alarm did not go off this morning but she still had time to shower, dress, eat breakfast and make her lunch before her friend came over to bike to school this morning.

Kevin E. Jan 14, 2013, 3:31pm UTC

To be fair there are still parents who don't care as much for their children as those who educate them do.

Veronica Hosking Jan 14, 2013, 4:00pm UTC

True but there should not be a 40% tardy number. There were other reasons the school didn't get the A+ rating but that was the main one. Afterwards they said students would have to stay after school 2 mins for every min they were late. Did not help the tardy numbers. All I could think was, yeah parents get extra time in the morning and extra time to get to school in the afternoon. Most of the tardy students were parent drop offs not walkers.

Kevin E. Jan 14, 2013, 9:00pm UTC

We a problem with tardies too but when they get enough of them they send the students to in school suspension. If they continue they get out of school suspension at the alternate school. Does this make any sense? That's what they want to be out of class. When I first began teaching at the district I asked why we couldn't have the students picking up trash, sweeping walk ways, picking up pecans from our front school yard and even clearing sticks away but I was told that would be considered cruel. Parents would sue. Is reinforcing bad behavior not cruel as well?

Veronica Hosking Jan 14, 2013, 9:11pm UTC

I have no idea schools don't seem to hold any authority anymore.

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Pamela Marks Jan 14, 2013, 9:41pm UTC

Yes the kids still call the short bus the short bus for the same reasons at least in this area they do, for heaven's sake that is why we call it that ourselves. Mostly those buses are used for the kids with behaviors unless they get a van pick up which means they were even worse and have to be transported seperate from everyone. How do I know because when Bryan was little he started out on the big bus, then he went to the little bus and finally to the van, he did eventually get back up to going on the big bus, but really blew it in school that year and ended up getting kicked out. He has a chance of coming home, but as for school I am not sure if our school will chance another round with him.

I think until they stop making those buses the vans or cars to transport the special ed kids it will always be known as the short bus. So glad that you found her transportation back and forth to school though.

Veronica Hosking Jan 15, 2013, 10:47am UTC

They don't use the short bus for behavior problem kids here. If you get kicked off the big bus, you have to find your own transportation to and from school. Likewise if you send your child to a charter school or one she is not districted to you have to find transportation. The district is not obligated to get students to and from school as a school of choice state. We are free to send our kids to any school in the state as long as we can get them there.

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Earl Shugerman Jan 15, 2013, 1:39pm UTC

Interesting post, I learned something new.

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Katryn D. Jan 15, 2013, 7:02pm UTC

Roni, kids told many other kids they should be on the short bus quite often, it was an easy to use insult...so you weren't singled out on that one...

Sean's family still uses the comment when someone does something stupid...that they must have ridden the short bus...none of them ever did...

Veronica Hosking Jan 15, 2013, 7:06pm UTC

I know that but when you have a physical handicap you take some things more to heart when directed at you. And this comment still makes me cringe and can't believe you have grown adult in-laws still using the insult.

Katryn D. Jan 15, 2013, 7:11pm UTC

yes well...you wonder why we don't do much with them...

granted it has been wonderful when Mark is able to help with vehicle repairs...but we just aren't on the same page in life

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The Short Bus

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