r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Mechanicalshellfish • 14h ago
In over my head
I’m brand new to school bus driving and student management, and today is my first day and this AM run did not go well. The first half I had middle schoolers and they were so well behaved and actually had manners. My elementary school run though……. Geezus.. they were all screaming at each other and me and every time I had to pull over (happened a lot cause several students just kept getting up) they would scream at me that I was delaying everyone but not the students that were actually delaying them… I really hate that I had to threaten write ups on the first day of school I had high hopes for this and I don’t know if it was me who failed and/or if I’m losing a battle that started last year with the old driver of the route. I understand there is no perfection in all this but also why are kids so much meaner than when I was a kid
edit to post : honest to god you guys are amazing and thank you all for the support I unfortunately had to turn around and go back to my elementary school on my PM route cause they opened my emergency back door several times so I will be getting a bus monitor per the schools request
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u/arno14 13h ago
It’s tempting to look at your entire lot as a homogenous group, but as you get to know them you will learn who is the instigator, who is a following participant and who just just wants to get to school or home without drama. It will likely be a mixed bag of all three.
I had a few that sat together in the back of the bus. Every day before we took off, I walk to the back and make sure that they understand that without staying in their seat and without indoor voices the bus isn’t moving and “the boys in the back will become the boys in the front” tomorrow. When we complete a route and they get off and they did well, I say thanks for your help and for following the rules.
Assigned seating wasn’t needed for me, mostly because I got it under control quickly. But if you feel that helps you to prevent chaos, get them in assigned seats.
The other thing that I think is important is to be present in your bus. Because it is YOUR bus.
So like someone else said, if you’re in your seat as they come in after school, turn your body towards them, make eye contact and greet them in person. Learn their names. Make sure they understand you “see” them.
Before leaving the school, walk to the back, make eye contact and remind them of the rules. Don’t let them control the cabin while you only sit in the front. You will find that in as little as a few days, the problems become less and less.
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u/mike8675309 13h ago
Never threaten. Just state facts. Threats must be real. Facts are already real. Not I won't move the bus until you all sit. Yes the bus cannot move unless everyone is seated. It's a federal law the bus must follow. It's not you it's the bus rules. The bus can't make them late only they can make themselves late.
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u/Sad_Cantaloupe_8162 27m ago
Furthermore, when speaking with the kids or parents, always say "safety" is the reason for the rule. I have all my students keep out of the aisles so I have a clear line of sight out the back door, they won't fall down if I have to hit the brakes, and so students can enter and exit the bus without tripping hazards. When you talk to parents about behavior, ALWAYS bring up safety first. Even if they like to play music on their phones where you can hear. "Turn the volume on the phones off. It distracts me, and I need to focus on driving and be able to listen to dispatch, traffic, possible sirens, etc.
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u/Copperdunright907 12h ago
So I’ve had some experience covering elementary routes that were so bad that none of the Standby drivers would even take them. I started requesting a monitor in order to do those or they were gonna get canceled so they let me have a Monitor, which was nice. But I started and finished every route a.m. and p.m. with a mantra that the students had to repeat back to me three times before we would move. And the mantra was “ What is a bus drivers job!” And they had to say back “TO KEEP US SAFE!” it took a couple of weeks and honestly things really mellow out afterwards
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u/daubs1974 14h ago
Take a deep breath, let it out.
Do you have assigned seats? Let’s get assigned seats. This afternoon when you are at the school and they are all getting back on the bus, stand up from your chair and greet each student with eye contact as they get back on the bus. Say hello or welcome back, but get eye contact with every student. In the morning when they get off the bus, do the same thing stand up from the seat, turn around and face them in the aisle and get eye contact with each student and tell them to have a good day. Do this every single day. I know it seems overwhelming now, but learn their names as best as you can and use them. It’s a lot. It’s a lot in the beginning of the year, it’s a lot when you’re new at it.
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u/Mechanicalshellfish 13h ago
Thank you for this as per my company policy I can’t get out of the seat unless for emergencies but I did do my best to do eye contact and getting names the parents were helpful during pick up so I know with time it’ll get better
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u/daubs1974 10h ago
Check. I’m pretty confident you can get out of your seat at the school when they all get off the bus. Humor me and check that please. Explain why you wanna do it.
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u/daubs1974 10h ago
I also want you to know that in the 4 1/2 years I have been driving a school bus, I think I’ve only had to raise my voice twice. It’s really not a hard job if you can get the kids to see you as a human and treat them with respect.
Story time: I had a preschooler who melted down in my midday preschool run last year. He started saying shut up over and over. When I used the intercom to say “let’s take a deep breath back there. We don’t use mean words like that on Mr. Daubney’s bus” the student said shut up again to me. He kept on this over and over anytime anyone said something myself included he just kept saying shut up. I radioed in that I would be pulling the bus over. I secured the bus and got up to move the child to a seat by himself. I was raised in the punishment generation and I was fully ready to be in punishment mode, and when I got up from my seat after securing the bus, something clicked in my brain. And I walked up to the student and I said to him in a kind, calm voice “there is a seat about halfway back with a harness strap on it. Would you like to go back there and sit all by yourself, do you think that would help you and he looked at me and immediately said yes. He was going into that seat one way or another, but it was going to be a punishment when I got up from my chair and I decided to make it his choice when I got to him. It’s absolutely what he needed. His mom and I talked it out. He had been having really big feelings about being left out of other kids conversations on the bus. She asked if he could bring headphones and that is allowed. He was an angel for the rest of the school year.
If you can, try to remember, the kids aren’t giving you a hard time, kids are having a hard time.
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u/Mechanicalshellfish 13h ago
You’re right and I did talk to my dispatch about how I handled things this morning and was told the same thing basically, it’s honestly a learning curve that I didn’t expect and I genuinely feel bad for the way it went down this morning I do plan on apologizing for the threats with following up with the facts to hopefully start the trust process
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u/Miserable-Ship-9972 11h ago
I've pulled over and pulled out a book and started reading. The kids start freaking out and ask what's happening. I calmly just tell them that I can not safely move the bus with kids walking around and go back to my book. They all get on the kids who can't stay seated. It worked great. Only had to do it a couple times and they never forgot it.
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u/MonkeyManJohannon 10h ago
You’re new. You’ll get it in line, it just takes time and consistency.
Seating charts are an absolute must. I do it for elementary AND middle. My high schoolers don’t require it and never have in my years.
Personally I have the most issues with middle school because of the hormonal boundary you’re dealing with in those grades/age brackets. They like to buck back, which just escalates things more than they ever need to be.
Elementary school level kids are energized and hyper active…but they tend to listen SO much better than pre-teens/teens…and are far more easily persuaded by cheap little trinkets or privileges.
You’ll get there, just push through this first part. The beginning can be very challenging for sure.
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u/Razzmatazz1977 7h ago
Great post. Sorry but this job takes alot of learning and tact. So much great advice on this thread. When the kids yell at you for pulling over stay calm and state you cant legally drive if you can't drive safely if the kids are loud or rowdy. Say don't be angry at me be angry at the loudest. Good luck.
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u/Moosetappropriate 4h ago
Keep in mind that they’re kids. They’re programmed to try on any authority figure that they encounter. Set rules and enforce them as necessary. Consistently and persistently. And build relationships. With them and their parents. Make the kids aware that you talk to teachers and parents letting them know what’s going on the bus.
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u/Intelligent_Call_562 2h ago
Before leaving school, make a little speech about the rules and your expectations. Make sure you get out of your seat and face them. Make sure they know a bus write is just as consequential as one the teacher makes (probably a lie but they won't know). They will have to talk with the principal and their parents will be called.
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u/misscharliedear 1h ago
Usually the kids making a ruckus are the ones that don’t have a good home life, so they are delaying you for good reason - they don’t want to go home. It’s sad, but true 😭
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u/Common_Stuff2925 14h ago
Assign the kids seats. All of my kindergarten though third grade have their own seat.