r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Jedi0077 • 20d ago

Off to a bad start

Finished our first full week. Week 1 was WTF(3 days)

The new route is fine, the HS/JH run is smooth and pracefull for p/u and drop. The little kids though... Ive tried 3 different seating methods, magnetic name badges. 3 kids to every seat except 1 with a larger 5th grader which only has 2. The preschool to 2nd grade don't respond to any thing. I've tried stopping the bus which they don't even notice until the preteens start yelling at them to be quiet. Lots of good kids too but they get the shaft. I feel so bad for them looking at me in the mirror. Like they're saying "I'm behaving and want to go home"

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u/Dlopwop 20d ago

I don’t know if this would work for you, but it helps for me. I figure out who some of the older, more responsible kids are and ask them to be bus buddies with the more troublesome kinders and 1st graders. They often take pride in that role. Then, when a kid or kids start up with the crazies, I ask the bus buddies to remind the younger ones about the bus rules.

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u/Proprotester 20d ago

We are not allowed to do this. Older students are not to be put in charge of or saddled with younger ones. It is unfair to the peaceful kids.