Mid-August we received our boys’ school bus pick up and drop off times. From day one Kolya’s high school bus has been almost to the minute on time in the morning and the afternoon.
Austin’s junior high bus experience has been less predictable. Pick up times are pretty accurate, but his drop off time has run 30 minutes later than the printed schedule. He’s supposed to be home at 3:52 and was routinely walking in the door at 4:20. I gave it a week at the beginning of the year and then made a phone call. They assured us that it would get better with time.
It’s now the fourth week of school and there had been no improvement. I decided a phone call was in order again. I explained that I had no problem with the schedule being off 5 or 10 minutes but I felt 30 minutes was not acceptable. This put Austin on the school bus for 1 hour and 20 minutes in the afternoon.
The woman on the other end of the phone took at look at his schedule and agreed that a 30 minute delay was not okay. She said the driver was new and she’d have a discussion with her to see what the problem was. She also asked me to call her the minute Austin got off the school bus the next day.
So today he walked in the door at 4:02pm! I couldn’t believe it! I called the transportation office and talked with the same woman I’d spoken to yesterday. She said that sometimes you just have to light a fire under some people and that’s all that she had done. Austin said it didn’t seem like she’d driven too fast, but just seemed a little more intentional about her job.
As a parent, sometimes it’s hard to find the balance in advocating too much or too little for our child.
But the truth is, sometimes a little bit of accountability can make a big difference.
Jill,
Truly you are just looking out for the best interests in your children. I would agree that is too much time on the bus and the 5-10 minute variance is acceptable but 30 minutes is too much. Makes you wonder just what is going on.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Do you know what an encouragement this is to me today? Thank you!
My husband and I have questions about some things at school. We've never done this before since he is in Kindergarten. I don't want to be an annoying parent, but at the same time it is my child's education. I feel some things I just need to know how things are done, and if they aren't going to just tell me I need to ask.
Thanks Kat for the pat on the back!
BP–I'm glad it was encouraging. Don't be afraid to ask. Teachers are usually fine with that!
We too are having problems with the start of school this year. My son is in 7th Grade now, and his first week of school he forgot his notebook, and another sheet of homework. He is being punished by having to serve a detention on Saturday at 7 a.m. and has to pay a $25 supervision fee. My husband and I think this is excessive, but the teachers and principal won't budge. Does anyone else think this is excessive?
Wow, I would have to agree. That seems very excessive to me. Forgetting a notebook or a sheet of homework is pretty common for a 7th grader…especially in the first week of school. He certainly needs a consequence for his irresponsibility…but a grade lower for the late paper or even a warning slip on forgetting the notebook would certainly be appropriate. How frustrating that must be for you when the teacher and principle won't budge.
When we've faced something like this, we've used it as a lesson on how to respectfully disagree with an authority figure. And if they will not budge, we have used it to teach them that sometimes even if we don't agree, we have to respectfully submit to their authority. Someday he may have a boss who gives an unfair consequence at work for failing to carry out an assignment, but he'll still have to submit to the consequence so help him to think of this as life training as well.
Everyone has a face this problem with the starting of a school. When i was in 5th standard i was also have some problems regarding my school.I have always mess with my teachers.