If you think that the American yellow school bus system is totally robust, safe and foolproof, you only have to read the international section of your newspaper. There’s always something cropping up. The latest and perhaps most bizarre story is from New York, where a mother is to sue her son’s bus driver and “bus matron” (presumably an accompanying escort) for failing to drop her child off at school—and leaving said child locked in and stranded on the bus for some considerable hours. Police are charging both employees with endangering the welfare of a child.
Sounds fair enough till you understand that the child was just two years old. Allowing for different attitudes and cultures in the States, what mother would put a two-year-old unaccompanied on a bus?
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Only in the States?
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6 comments:
What educational system would teach two year olds. Surely their place is home with mum until at least 3 or 4.
"What educational system would teach two year olds. Surely their place is home with mum until at least 3 or 4."
Or with Dad!!!
A monumentally stupid and irresponsible mother would leave a two year old on a bus. Her stupidity and irresponsibility would then be gloriously enhanced by then resorting to legal action against a third party when she is the one at fault. As they say - it takes all sorts!
Although agreeing with the comments made and without knowing the facts, I doubt that "irresponsible parenthood" is confined the "the States". The fact that I read in the English press of the record number of truancy cases and youngsters creating havoc on housing estates amplifies this.
It seems fashionable to knock anything American in these columns. Yes, things are different here and I agree, not always for the better, but the school bus system does work and remember, there are over 400,000 of them, most doing two or three runs every day. The NatX driver recently filmed driving whilst reading and steering with his elbows is not the norm in England and neither is this incident the norm here.
Contrary to popular belief, public transit is gaining in importance here (unfortunately not so much on the rails) and technology is advancing quickly. How many urban cities in the UK have 30% of their fleet hybrid? How many cities in the UK have a flat fare of $1 (65 pence), or in some case no charge?
Ex-pat living in North Carolina
As long as Scorpio from Dirty Harry wasn't an onboard guest. Row, row, row your boat, etc.
In the States it is a legal requirement for schoolbus drivers to check their vehicles right to the back. Most new buses have a button fitted on the rear bulkhead that has to be pressed before the bus can be shut down. Older buses and school districts use a board that has to be out in the back window of the bus.
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