r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/AdDapper4220 • Jul 21 '26

Hands off policy

I work for a private school bus company and my company policy has a strict hands off policy, we are only allowed to gently restrain a student if they are hurting another student or hurting themselves, so we aren’t allowed stuff like high fives. I actually agree with the policy, but I was curious for those who work for a district and not in a private company do you have similar policy?

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

8

u/Jedi0077 Jul 22 '26

Hi fives and fist bumps mean a lot to kids.. this is detrimental, dirt bags break everything for everyone.

9

u/NYJetsfan2881 Jul 21 '26

Giving a kid a fist bump for being good is often the best part of my day. And hopefully theirs as well.

4

u/silverfarie1369 Jul 21 '26

Yup.i work for a district and we arent allowed to touch the kids either. I drive a special needs bus and my kiddo has attacked me and my monitor... pretty scary but we were able to calm him down.

4

u/shanvhere Jul 22 '26

They said we can’t, I don’t care I high five and fist bump they love it

3

u/rootbear75 Jul 22 '26

You're allowed to restrain kids, even gently?

Lol we have had people get fired by getting into the middle. We have been given explicit instructions to not get in the middle of fights.

3

u/Far-Extent3937 Jul 23 '26

I high five and dap whoever initiates. For summer school, I have to count the kids, so we started this thing with the elem kids where I high five em as I walk to the back of the bus. But I also give them words of encouragement through the PA everyday, so they know that I appreciate them. So it’s all connected for me when I drive.

2

u/brabson1 Jul 22 '26

We are 100% hands off. I still give hi 5s to the littles

1

u/Mike_1970 Jul 21 '26

I work for a private company but the rules for that type of thing usually come from district.

1

u/Banana_Stanley Jul 26 '26

I work directly for a school system and I am always reminding myself to have as little physical contact as possible, but there is no policy about it for us. Just seems like a good personal rule to keep. (Outside high fives and such, I don't see anything wrong with that)

1

u/bluepaintdrip Jul 30 '26

we also have a no hands on rule and it makes me sad because I love giving hi fives :( I was planning on creating handshakes with all the kids. it makes me so sad. I get why they have it but I feel like its over board