I work on a school bus in springfield illinois, the children are terrible. what can I do.?

Question

Hey there my fellow people, I am a school bus monitor for laidlaw transit in springfield illinois. I have had the same bus route for the last 3 yrs this starts my fourth yr. Most of the kids know the rules and aren't that bad, however I pick up jr. high kids and they are terrible they still dont' want to listen , they are all about fighting at any little thing. The district doesn't give us much authority to do anything with them, I am at my wits end and the school doesn't do anything. What do other people from everywhere else think of this situation, what do you think can be done about the school and them being more supportive of us bus workers and providing disipline for the students.? All replies apprechiated.

Answer 1

I teach behavior disordered kids, so I feel your pain. I wouldn't do your job for all the money in the world. You can do positive rewards. Like if they are all good they get tootsie pops or something. You can try to call parents. Does school let you do that? Keep the bad kids in a certain place where you can handle them better, assign seats and change them as needed. Tell them when they behave they can sit where they want. Use peer pressure to get kids to behave. Get one of the "alpha boys" to helpyou keep the other kids in line.

Answer 2

I used to live in spfld. I think from my understanding laidlaw is there own company and they are hired by the school right? In that case the school really doesn't have much say in it. What does your supervisor say? IF it was me I'd lay the law down on the kids. Tell there parents, take some action on your own. Jr high kids can be terrible I understand, but they need to follow the rules, or get off the bus. I wish I had a better answer for ya, but I'm not to familar with the rules! Good luck to ya!

Answer 3

I would find another line of work before you break down emotionally and go to jail for beating a kid's face in with your heel. I would never be able to handle being a bus driver. Kids can be so abusive.

When I road the bus home from high school, these kids were out of control and would swing on the bars on the top of the bus. Eventually the driver told the school and the school's disciplinarian came out and pointed fingers and talked in a loud voice. The bus DID have cameras, though, and the driver took the videos into the school on a laptop and showed the guy. I'd tell someone at the school.

Answer 4

I work at a private boarding school and sometimes pick up and drive kids to school. I just drive a minibus, so can't really compare my situation w yours, but a very effective way when kids start acting up is pulling over and tell the lil rascals that's it, I won't drive any further until you sit down and shut up. If they just laugh at ya, be cool as a cucumber, take out a magazine & start reading, put on the radio, relax. Unless those kids are total whackos, they'll either sit down & shut up or get off the bus. You may need to talk to yer boss in advance to pull this stunt. My boss ok's it, so do the parents, and no kid has ever left the bus coz they don't want to face the consequences.

Good Luck, mate.

Answer 5

Duct tape works good.... really I to live in IL. I 'd would get a speech ready, after the bus is full, tell them you have some thing to say, and set the rules, and make sure supervise reads this first, Get the OK, If this doesn't work the kids who are acting up will not ride the bus from the school home. Let the parents of these darlings step up to the plate and let them handle their problem child!!!!!! I know you walk a fine in here, make copy's of this demand list and file then at home, before the start of the school yr. kids are suppose to sign a piece of paper understanding they and their parents understand the conduct on the school bus Wisk you luck

Answer 6

Most parents would probably tell you that some form of discipline is appropriate even for their own children. Of course you would have to get acquainted with the parents to know which ones might object to a particular form of discipline. I favor kicking them off the bus and making them call their parents or walk home. When I was in school we had bus passes and could lose our bus pass for disruptive behavior.

Maybe you could suggest possible forms of discipline with school administration. If the school doesn't support those it employs then the school is failing in its responsibilities to society. Children who get away with anti-social behavior can grow up to become anti-social adults.

If talking to the school administration should fail maybe you could petition to have your voice heard by the PTA. (Or whatever they call it now days). This way any proposals that are passed are already supported by the parents who are active in that association.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 7

I think the best thing you should do is closing tothose nasty children...?then you may ask me HOW?I'll give you few examples.First get to a talk with some tough guy.Ask him did you watched the latest film of Jim Carry.then if you feel that he likes about films talk about films.May be you should say that i can give you few films to borrow.I'm sure you will be out of the mess doing this thing with few boys at least three days.

Answer 8

aren't u supposed to tell the principal of the school?
ur don't have any authority to do something to them personally, but u are supposed to keep the children safe, that is what the matron/monitor of a school bus is for, so the driver can concentrate on driving.
u have to tell kids to sit down and be quiet, and u were supposed to obtain a list of of the kids names and the school they are in to contact the principal. the principal is supposed to let parents know, and the school has jurisdiction over whether the children who mis-behave can continue to ride the school bus or not.

Answer 9

Mount a video camera where it can be seen.It should calm things down.If not you will have proof of the bad behavior.Which you can show to the school authorities. You may also need the tape if,God forbid,there is an accident.

Answer 10

When I lived in Panama city, Florida, my bus driver have 20 stereo speakers that lined the sides of thwe bus. He said tjhat he had no problem playing music as long as everyone was good. We only had one problem and that day was so bad that he poped in an opera CD and it shut everyone up fast.