What should be done to these kids?
Replies
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I dont agree with this who,le donation thing,there is plenty of really needy causes in the world. Are we going to take up donations for everyone thats had something mean said to them or just the ones that make it on youtube?
If she had asked for donations, I'd be really turned off by it. But she didn't. It was done for her, by strangers, because they felt so awful for her and wanted to do something kind.
I'm ok with the donations.
I agree--life is random. Whether she "deserves" it or not is inconsequential. I say enjoy every penny.0 -
Meh. I don't care that she takes the vacation. I care that she's not pressing charges.0
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When I was in school (class of 2004), the only bus that had a monitor was the handicapped bus, so that the driver could remain in the driver's seat at all times, and an assistant could help children in wheelchairs, on crutches, or who in general need assistance to get off of the bus when it was their stop. A couple years after I was done with school, I remember my friends still in school talking about bus monitors...so I'm guessing it's a relatively new thing? At least here, it is.
I'm not sure what kind of authority they have, to be honest. I did an internship last summer, and the kids I worked rode the bus in from another county to participate in the summer program I was interning for...their bus monitor became my lunch buddy. He was maybe 30 years old, and he stayed in classes and at lunch and during recess with the kids at all times. Those were some of the worst kids I ever had to work with in any situation...but they did listen to him, the few times he did have to step in and say something. However, he was 30 years old, if that, and looked much more intimidating than an elderly woman. The teachers, interns that were higher up than me, and at one point the director of the program made it quite clear to them on the first day, however, that riding the bus was a privilege, and not a right in any way, and if there were any complaints against them from the monitor or driver, then they would not be riding the bus home, and would not be allowed to attend the program anymore. I do remember a few of them being kicked out of all activities, and they weren't allowed to ride home--their parent or guardian or whoever had to pick them up...which they probably weren't pleased about, since it was over a half hour away from the county they were taking the bus to.0 -
Some kids told me yesterday I'm ugly,I will be setting up a fund through bank of America.
Here's something that bugs me she is an adult,she is also a bus moniter. I would not be ok with an adult who's job it is to keep kids in line on a bus not being able to stand up for herself,how would she protect a child on the bus from being attacked?
They would not have that job if the person did not have the power to revoke bus privligaes,or detention.They would not pay someone to fill a seat.0 -
Some kids told me yesterday I'm ugly,I will be setting up a fund through bank of America.
Here's something that bugs me she is an adult,she is also a bus moniter. I would not be ok with an adult who's job it is to keep kids in line on a bus not being able to stand up for herself,how would she protect a child on the bus from being attacked?
They would not have that job if the person did not have the power to revoke bus privligaes,or detention.They would not pay someone to fill a seat.
I think that if she were witnessing a child go through that (or even a portion of that) kind of bullying, she would do something about it. I would hope so. I think the fact that it was happening to her embarrassed her and she didn't want to make a big scene over just herself, draw more attention to herself, or have the bus driver have to stop over her. At least, that's my guess.0 -
This is why I don't want kids.
If I did have a kid who did something like this, I would do something like making them wear a sandwich board on a busy street corner for an hour displaying that he or she is a punk *kitten*. Then, I'd ground that little **** for life.0 -
Yeah, probably best you don't have kids. The whole "grounding for life" thing doesn't work!This is why I don't want kids.
If I did have a kid who did something like this, I would do something like making them wear a sandwich board on a busy street corner for an hour displaying that he or she is a punk *kitten*. Then, I'd ground that little **** for life.0 -
Which leads us back to Lucky's question of who was doing the video recording. Anyone know?Hmmm...that is an idea. Rent a bus, get some neighborhood kids, make a video.........make profits!!
Pretty sure it was another student that was participating in the antics.
I don't get why middle school aged kids have a bus monitor.0 -
Which leads us back to Lucky's question of who was doing the video recording. Anyone know?Hmmm...that is an idea. Rent a bus, get some neighborhood kids, make a video.........make profits!!
Pretty sure it was another student that was participating in the antics.
I don't get why middle school aged kids have a bus monitor.
When they really need a SWAT team.........:bigsmile:0 -
Yeah, probably best you don't have kids. The whole "grounding for life" thing doesn't work!This is why I don't want kids.
If I did have a kid who did something like this, I would do something like making them wear a sandwich board on a busy street corner for an hour displaying that he or she is a punk *kitten*. Then, I'd ground that little **** for life.
Mrs Azdak has trouble making it last a week........:frown:0 -
Some kids told me yesterday I'm ugly,I will be setting up a fund through bank of America.
Here's something that bugs me she is an adult,she is also a bus moniter. I would not be ok with an adult who's job it is to keep kids in line on a bus not being able to stand up for herself,how would she protect a child on the bus from being attacked?
They would not have that job if the person did not have the power to revoke bus privligaes,or detention.They would not pay someone to fill a seat.
I think that if she were witnessing a child go through that (or even a portion of that) kind of bullying, she would do something about it. I would hope so. I think the fact that it was happening to her embarrassed her and she didn't want to make a big scene over just herself, draw more attention to herself, or have the bus driver have to stop over her. At least, that's my guess.
She was interviewed, I watched part of it. She said she still had to watch the other kids and she just tried to not listen to them, which she was successful with at least part of the time. The video clip is 10 minutes long. I assume it went on longer than that. She didn't do a very good job at getting them to stop bullying her, but I agree that it is likely different when it's being done to you than when it's being done to someone else.
I have no idea what a bus monitor is or what their powers are. Maybe they don't have any. Sometimes just having a presence will deter any hooligans from acting out. The only thing I really have to say on that issue is that maybe she shouldn't be a bus monitor. I guess the $440K will do her good in that area.
The donations came from random individuals. It's their money, they can send it wherever they like. If you want to try and scam the system - have fun.0 -
Some kids told me yesterday I'm ugly,I will be setting up a fund through bank of America.
Here's something that bugs me she is an adult,she is also a bus moniter. I would not be ok with an adult who's job it is to keep kids in line on a bus not being able to stand up for herself,how would she protect a child on the bus from being attacked?
They would not have that job if the person did not have the power to revoke bus privligaes,or detention.They would not pay someone to fill a seat.
I think that if she were witnessing a child go through that (or even a portion of that) kind of bullying, she would do something about it. I would hope so. I think the fact that it was happening to her embarrassed her and she didn't want to make a big scene over just herself, draw more attention to herself, or have the bus driver have to stop over her. At least, that's my guess.
She was interviewed, I watched part of it. She said she still had to watch the other kids and she just tried to not listen to them, which she was successful with at least part of the time. The video clip is 10 minutes long. I assume it went on longer than that. She didn't do a very good job at getting them to stop bullying her, but I agree that it is likely different when it's being done to you than when it's being done to someone else.
I have no idea what a bus monitor is or what their powers are. Maybe they don't have any. Sometimes just having a presence will deter any hooligans from acting out. The only thing I really have to say on that issue is that maybe she shouldn't be a bus monitor. I guess the $440K will do her good in that area.
The donations came from random individuals. It's their money, they can send it wherever they like. If you want to try and scam the system - have fun.
My wife grew up with bus monitors and she told me she lived in fear of the bus monitor on her bus. She had the power to write demerits which could lead to detention and she was quick to tell the kids to sit down, be quite, stop chewing gum, etc. This woman was not in the correct line of work or the position is powerless. Does that excuse the behavior of the children? Not at all, but if she cannot stand up for herself or at least threaten official retribution, then either she is in the wrong job or the job is incorrectly set up.
As far as donations, I do not blame her for accepting them but I wish those people donating would direct that spirit to a homeless shelter or something like that.0 -
As far as donations, I do not blame her for accepting them but I wish those people donating would direct that spirit to a homeless shelter or something like that.
Just curious why?
I have my own favorite charities, for example, I'd give to SPCA or the Humane Society long before I'd give to a homeless shelter (sorry - humans aren't helplessly dependent like animals are) but I still see no problem whatsoever with people donating money for this lady.
Shouldn't people be free to give as they see fit?0 -
Especially when mom is the one inconvenienced by the groudning. Ground a teenager from their car and you have to drive them everywhere again! Ha!Mrs Azdak has trouble making it last a week........:frown:0 -
As far as donations, I do not blame her for accepting them but I wish those people donating would direct that spirit to a homeless shelter or something like that.
Just curious why?
I have my own favorite charities, for example, I'd give to SPCA or the Humane Society long before I'd give to a homeless shelter (sorry - humans aren't helplessly dependent like animals are) but I still see no problem whatsoever with people donating money for this lady.
Shouldn't people be free to give as they see fit?
People are free to give to who they would like. I never implied anything different. I merely mentioned that I would have liked their money to go to a charity, my choice being homeless shelters, rather than to this woman.
I chose a homeless shelter because while animals are more helplessly dependent on humans, I have see a fair amount of helpless humans who can't get a hot meal. But that is not on the topic of this thread.0 -
Some kids told me yesterday I'm ugly,I will be setting up a fund through bank of America.
Here's something that bugs me she is an adult,she is also a bus moniter. I would not be ok with an adult who's job it is to keep kids in line on a bus not being able to stand up for herself,how would she protect a child on the bus from being attacked?
They would not have that job if the person did not have the power to revoke bus privligaes,or detention.They would not pay someone to fill a seat.
I think that if she were witnessing a child go through that (or even a portion of that) kind of bullying, she would do something about it. I would hope so. I think the fact that it was happening to her embarrassed her and she didn't want to make a big scene over just herself, draw more attention to herself, or have the bus driver have to stop over her. At least, that's my guess.
She was interviewed, I watched part of it. She said she still had to watch the other kids and she just tried to not listen to them, which she was successful with at least part of the time. The video clip is 10 minutes long. I assume it went on longer than that. She didn't do a very good job at getting them to stop bullying her, but I agree that it is likely different when it's being done to you than when it's being done to someone else.
I have no idea what a bus monitor is or what their powers are. Maybe they don't have any. Sometimes just having a presence will deter any hooligans from acting out. The only thing I really have to say on that issue is that maybe she shouldn't be a bus monitor. I guess the $440K will do her good in that area.
The donations came from random individuals. It's their money, they can send it wherever they like. If you want to try and scam the system - have fun.
My wife grew up with bus monitors and she told me she lived in fear of the bus monitor on her bus. She had the power to write demerits which could lead to detention and she was quick to tell the kids to sit down, be quite, stop chewing gum, etc. This woman was not in the correct line of work or the position is powerless. Does that excuse the behavior of the children? Not at all, but if she cannot stand up for herself or at least threaten official retribution, then either she is in the wrong job or the job is incorrectly set up.
No, it doesn't excuse the behavior of the children. I was talking about why she might not have stood up for herself. I don't think anyone is excusing the children.0 -
Some kids told me yesterday I'm ugly,I will be setting up a fund through bank of America.
Here's something that bugs me she is an adult,she is also a bus moniter. I would not be ok with an adult who's job it is to keep kids in line on a bus not being able to stand up for herself,how would she protect a child on the bus from being attacked?
They would not have that job if the person did not have the power to revoke bus privligaes,or detention.They would not pay someone to fill a seat.
I think that if she were witnessing a child go through that (or even a portion of that) kind of bullying, she would do something about it. I would hope so. I think the fact that it was happening to her embarrassed her and she didn't want to make a big scene over just herself, draw more attention to herself, or have the bus driver have to stop over her. At least, that's my guess.
She was interviewed, I watched part of it. She said she still had to watch the other kids and she just tried to not listen to them, which she was successful with at least part of the time. The video clip is 10 minutes long. I assume it went on longer than that. She didn't do a very good job at getting them to stop bullying her, but I agree that it is likely different when it's being done to you than when it's being done to someone else.
I have no idea what a bus monitor is or what their powers are. Maybe they don't have any. Sometimes just having a presence will deter any hooligans from acting out. The only thing I really have to say on that issue is that maybe she shouldn't be a bus monitor. I guess the $440K will do her good in that area.
The donations came from random individuals. It's their money, they can send it wherever they like. If you want to try and scam the system - have fun.
My wife grew up with bus monitors and she told me she lived in fear of the bus monitor on her bus. She had the power to write demerits which could lead to detention and she was quick to tell the kids to sit down, be quite, stop chewing gum, etc. This woman was not in the correct line of work or the position is powerless. Does that excuse the behavior of the children? Not at all, but if she cannot stand up for herself or at least threaten official retribution, then either she is in the wrong job or the job is incorrectly set up.
No, it doesn't excuse the behavior of the children. I was talking about why she might not have stood up for herself. I don't think anyone is excusing the children.
I wasn't saying that you were excusing the children, I was just saying that she was not properly equipped or prepared to do her job. (at least from the 10 min snapshot into her life).0 -
I haven't watched the video. I can't, it sounds horrendous. But let's not assume that these little monsters have bad parents. Sometimes kids are *kitten*. Put them into a mob mentality and it gets worse. My brother was a problem child at school and I can still remember my dad crying the whole ride home one day because he'd just had to beg to not have my brother expelled. (private school) He threw punches at my father when he was 16, he was a complete and utter ratbag. And I never got in trouble. I had teachers who refused to believe we were related (not just behaviour reasons, I'm very fair and he's quite dark) I can remember my head of year complaining about him in English class because he was mucking up again. I walked out of the room and apparently her response was 'Why is Lozza upset?' (and yes my mother raised holly hell about that one, teachers should know better than to complain about other students) Punish the students, but without anymore information let's not assume they are bad parents.
They should have in school suspensions/expelled (depending on prior records) Banned from riding the school bus. Banned from any extra curricular activities for the rest of the school year and/or the next year as well. (not sure exactly when the American school year ends, I have a funny feeling that it's very soon, hence next year as well) She should be getting written apologies and if she feels willing to accept it, apologies to her face in front of the entire school. Parents punishment as they decide.
No matter what these boys identities should not be public. They are already receiving death threats. These boys do NOT need to be publically named and shamed. As horrific as their actions are, I am not in favour of ruining people's lives because they were *kitten* at 12 and 13. They're known in their community and that to me is punishment enough in regards to the public shaming. There's no need for the rest of the world to know.0 -
The only thing that shocks me about this story, is how shocked people are by it.
This is mild bullying, IMO.
This happens every day, and I also find it weird that people think it's worse happening to a woman in a position of (albeit minor) power, than it happening to a little defenseless kid.
The kids are *kitten* holes, but the woman should know that, she works with kids!
I learned that some kids are evil little ****s (and I mean evil in the literal sense, no hyperbole) when I was about 5. She should know it by now.
The education system favours bullies. It goes unpunished, victims are essentially told to man the **** up, and there's been many a time I have had to apologize to the bullies for answering back - not even physically retaliating.
If I had a youtube video for every time I'd been reduced to tears by the evil little ****s at school, judging by this lady, I'd be a millionaire.
Also, wonder why your kids are fat America? You give them a freakin bus to school, learn to walk places like the rest of the world. Seriously. I wanna go on holiday to Disney land florida this year with my BF, but neither of us drive, and apparently in Florida you can't get around without a car. What's with that? My school was easily 30-40 minutes away, and I either had to walk or my parents had to pay for me to get the normal public bus. Never did me any harm.0 -
As a teacher, I TOTALLY give all the props to that lady for keeping it together and keeping her cool during that whole ordeal. It is a very sad reality that students act this way because 1) they don't have any consequences anymore and 2) as soon as parents mention the word "lawsuit", principals get soft and let sh*tbag kids like this get away with such atrocious behavior. I can't believe these kids actually think it's funny to do this to someone... it's entertaining for them... To me, that begs several questions: 1) what in the F*** is/isn't going on at home?! and 2) Just how dehumanized have our children become? More and more, kids lack sensitivity to others around them... Yet they lose their *kitten* when something like this happens to them?? Our kids are screwed!0
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The only thing that shocks me about this story, is how shocked people are by it.
This is mild bullying, IMO.
This happens every day, and I also find it weird that people think it's worse happening to a woman in a position of (albeit minor) power, than it happening to a little defenseless kid.
I get your point, but truly and honestly, the worse reality would be if people WEREN'T as appalled as they are by these students' behavior. Continuing to lower expectations of student conduct is not the answer, no matter whether you are a teacher, principal, or bus monitor. Students enrolled in school spend nearly 25% of their day or more interacting with school personnel. The majority of their socialization happens in the school environment from kindergarten on up and parents expect this. Yet... they don't reinforce it at home. My point is, just because you work with children doesn't mean you should ever have to tolerate that kind of behavior, EVER. What are we teaching our kids if we tolerate behavior such as this?? That it's perfectly acceptable.0 -
My wife grew up with bus monitors and she told me she lived in fear of the bus monitor on her bus. She had the power to write demerits which could lead to detention and she was quick to tell the kids to sit down, be quite, stop chewing gum, etc. This woman was not in the correct line of work or the position is powerless. Does that excuse the behavior of the children? Not at all, but if she cannot stand up for herself or at least threaten official retribution, then either she is in the wrong job or the job is incorrectly set up.
Not to drag this out TOO much, but it goes without saying that working with children is not for everyone. Those in the profession have their own ways of dealing with situations like this, but they have very specific guidelines to follow when situations like this occur. She had a job to do, monitoring ALL the students on the bus. This is so that the bus driver can focus on driving, not managing student behavior. There was no need for her to defend herself or even tell the students to stop. Why? That's probably what those kids were BEGGING her to do. The situation would have escalated if she had reacted to it. Instead, she did her best to manage the situation, keep it contained, and keep an eye on the rest of the bus just as she is supposed to do. Obviously, these kids are going to get reprimanded (and hopefully expelled!) for their behavior, but she did a good job picking her battles with these kids. Inner city NY kids picking on a bus monitor? Hardly something that hasn't happened before. Just because she didn't defend herself doesn't mean she didn't know how to handle the situation or shouldn't be in that job. From my experience, employees that try to "handle" situations like that and turn it into an argument with the students face more problems down the road... sadly.0 -
The only thing that shocks me about this story, is how shocked people are by it.
This is mild bullying, IMO.
This happens every day, and I also find it weird that people think it's worse happening to a woman in a position of (albeit minor) power, than it happening to a little defenseless kid.
The kids are *kitten* holes, but the woman should know that, she works with kids!
I learned that some kids are evil little ****s (and I mean evil in the literal sense, no hyperbole) when I was about 5. She should know it by now.
The education system favours bullies. It goes unpunished, victims are essentially told to man the **** up, and there's been many a time I have had to apologize to the bullies for answering back - not even physically retaliating.
If I had a youtube video for every time I'd been reduced to tears by the evil little ****s at school, judging by this lady, I'd be a millionaire.
Also, wonder why your kids are fat America? You give them a freakin bus to school, learn to walk places like the rest of the world. Seriously. I wanna go on holiday to Disney land florida this year with my BF, but neither of us drive, and apparently in Florida you can't get around without a car. What's with that? My school was easily 30-40 minutes away, and I either had to walk or my parents had to pay for me to get the normal public bus. Never did me any harm.
Can you quote anyone who said that they felt it was worse happening to an elderly woman than to a child? I'm pretty sure no one even remotely said that, but please, point me to it if they did.
Between comparing how bad you got bullied vs. this woman, and insinuating that a public bus makes one less "lazy" than a school bus, I think you missed the entire point of this.0 -
Can you quote anyone who said that they felt it was worse happening to an elderly woman than to a child? I'm pretty sure no one even remotely said that, but please, point me to it if they did.
No one here has said that, but the public reaction and media attention says it. Stuff like this happens to kids every. single. day. and it doesn't get media coverage - someone does it to an elderly monitor and all hell breaks loose?Between comparing how bad you got bullied vs. this woman, and insinuating that a public bus makes one less "lazy" than a school bus, I think you missed the entire point of this.
Actually I just think getting the bus in general is lazy, unless you live over an hours walk from school, which I know is the case for some but not most, why does the school/state provide a bus for you? rely on your legs! It doesn't hurt a kid to walk to school, just means they have to be up 20 minutes earlier, OH THE HORROR.
Btw, I didn't miss the point, that was just an added thought, a bit of a tangent if you will, added on, rather than my main reply.
And the comparison about my own bullying again reinforces the point I made that I was surprised by the reaction. Worse things happen every single day, to defenseless kids (made increasingly defenseless by school policies), and no one bats an eye lid, but it happens to a woman in a position of authority and everyone is like OMG THESE CHILDREN ARE EVILLLL
IMO she has more to defend herself with as an adult and as a bus monitor than these childrens peers, and so while it is incredibly rude and disrespectful for them to treat her like that, she can have them put in detention or given lines or sent to the electric chair whatever it is Americans do to kids, while the kids they are (definitely are) bullying at school have none of these tools or defenses.
Oh, and the parents on this threads claiming their child would stick up for the woman, or should anyway, that just makes your kid a target, and does nothing for the original victim either.0 -
Mystery solved! American kids are fat because they ride school buses!Also, wonder why your kids are fat America? You give them a freakin bus to school, learn to walk places like the rest of the world
What's the difference between a "normal" bus that you took or the fat-inducing school buses American kids take to school? I'm so confused!My school was easily 30-40 minutes away, and I either had to walk or my parents had to pay for me to get the normal public bus. Never did me any harm.0 -
Mystery solved! American kids are fat because they ride school buses!Also, wonder why your kids are fat America? You give them a freakin bus to school, learn to walk places like the rest of the world
What's the difference between a "normal" bus that you took or the fat-inducing school buses American kids take to school? I'm so confused!My school was easily 30-40 minutes away, and I either had to walk or my parents had to pay for me to get the normal public bus. Never did me any harm.
It's more the attitude, like the assumption you have to drive everywhere in life. And lol I didn't take the bus, I walked. I think the bus is lazy in general. The public busses don't run for school kids, it's the parent/childs choice to take the bus - but by having a designated school bus it's kinda deciding for you or at least suggesting/assuming that everyone is getting the bus to school rather than...like...walking.
Both busses are equally lazy, (well actually the public bus doesn't stop right outside your school), but by having a designated school bus you are encouraging the kids to get the bus rather than walk0 -
Mystery solved! American kids are fat because they ride school buses!Also, wonder why your kids are fat America? You give them a freakin bus to school, learn to walk places like the rest of the world
What's the difference between a "normal" bus that you took or the fat-inducing school buses American kids take to school? I'm so confused!My school was easily 30-40 minutes away, and I either had to walk or my parents had to pay for me to get the normal public bus. Never did me any harm.
It's more the attitude, like the assumption you have to drive everywhere in life. And lol I didn't take the bus, I walked. I think the bus is lazy in general. The public busses don't run for school kids, it's the parent/childs choice to take the bus - but by having a designated school bus it's kinda deciding for you or at least suggesting/assuming that everyone is getting the bus to school rather than...like...walking.
Both busses are equally lazy, (well actually the public bus doesn't stop right outside your school), but by having a designated school bus you are encouraging the kids to get the bus rather than walk
That's all fine and good to say that buses make kids lazy, but where I grew up if you didn't live in town you had no choice but to bus because you were in the middle of no where on a farm that was a good 1hr bus ride out of town... or you were in the neighboring town that came to school in my town and it was absolutely not possible to walk to or from school because you would have had to walk down a highway and that would be unsafe.
As for the original post... I like Brett's idea.0 -
That's all fine and good to say that buses make kids lazy, but where I grew up if you didn't live in town you had no choice but to bus because you were in the middle of no where on a farm that was a good 1hr bus ride out of town... or you were in the neighboring town that came to school in my town and it was absolutely not possible to walk to or from school because you would have had to walk down a highway and that would be unsafe.
I said in an earlier comment that I know some people need to get the bus, but if you're less than an hours walk away you should just walk.
Plus, it wasn't like a main point or totally serious comment :L
I guess I just find it weird that everyone seems to drive everywhere.
I wanna go on holiday to Florida but apparently you can't get anywhere without a car and I can't drive </3
Plus child obesity is such an issue and walking to/from school is such an easy/practical way to get exercise in.
This is going well off topic though :L0 -
Mystery solved! American kids are fat because they ride school buses!Also, wonder why your kids are fat America? You give them a freakin bus to school, learn to walk places like the rest of the world
What's the difference between a "normal" bus that you took or the fat-inducing school buses American kids take to school? I'm so confused!My school was easily 30-40 minutes away, and I either had to walk or my parents had to pay for me to get the normal public bus. Never did me any harm.
It's more the attitude, like the assumption you have to drive everywhere in life. And lol I didn't take the bus, I walked. I think the bus is lazy in general. The public busses don't run for school kids, it's the parent/childs choice to take the bus - but by having a designated school bus it's kinda deciding for you or at least suggesting/assuming that everyone is getting the bus to school rather than...like...walking.
Both busses are equally lazy, (well actually the public bus doesn't stop right outside your school), but by having a designated school bus you are encouraging the kids to get the bus rather than walk
When I went to school in the UK, we had buses to take us to school. Barely anyone walked to school. It was mostly because the area was more rural with no sidewalks so it was kind of dangerous to walk on the streets to school.0 -
That's all fine and good to say that buses make kids lazy, but where I grew up if you didn't live in town you had no choice but to bus because you were in the middle of no where on a farm that was a good 1hr bus ride out of town... or you were in the neighboring town that came to school in my town and it was absolutely not possible to walk to or from school because you would have had to walk down a highway and that would be unsafe.
I said in an earlier comment that I know some people need to get the bus, but if you're less than an hours walk away you should just walk.
Plus, it wasn't like a main point or totally serious comment :L
I guess I just find it weird that everyone seems to drive everywhere.
I wanna go on holiday to Florida but apparently you can't get anywhere without a car and I can't drive </3
Plus child obesity is such an issue and walking to/from school is such an easy/practical way to get exercise in.
This is going well off topic though :L
Many US cities, unlike Edinburgh and most of the UK, are very spread out, have poor public transport (by UK/European standards), especially outside the city centres, and are designed for cars, rather than pedestrians. Don't forget that most US cities are a lot more recent in advent than most European cities and were therefore designed with different things in mind. I can well understand, both from a geographical and a safety perspective, why the majority of schoolchildren in the US take a school bus on a daily basis. If you go to Florida, you will understand quickly why people drive - in many US cities, there really isn't an option. I will happily, and safely, walk a significant distance from one place to another in the majority of the UK/European cities, but when in the US,I find that is rarely a practical option, though the willingness remains the same.
Buses specifically for school children (not a part of the normal network) also mean that children are safe and supervised en route to and from school. Again unlike most UK and European cities, 'safe' and 'less safe' areas in American cities tend to be less segregated. When I have tried to walk, I have quite often found myself in places I felt vulnerable during the course of my route; sometimes just one street further across can make a big difference. Schools and their catchment areas also tend to be bigger, so many children will live at a significant distance from their school. The point is, there are good and valid reasons for US kids to take the bus to school, and 'laziness' really doesn't come into it as much as you seem to imply.
Re. the OP, one wonders what, if any, comeback the bus monitor had against these kids. Presumably, had she retaliated, or used her authority (assuming she had some) in a way the kids objected to, she would be the one in trouble for causing 'emotional distress' or worse.
Of course the kids were wrong, but a system that removes all ability to react appropriately from adults in positions of authority seems to me to be the real culprit. If no-one is able to draw a meaningful metaphorical line in the sand for kids, who have always tested the boundaries as a part of their developmental process, is it any wonder that their behaviour transgresses societal norms? Simply trusting kids to know where the edge of acceptable behaviour is, by instinct, has never worked, and we are doing many children of the current generation a grave disservice, and creating an array of rods for our own backs, by preventing and sometimes even punishing the setting and enforcing of clear limits and behavioural standards.0
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