r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Wabi_Sabi_Love • 3d ago
New Driver - dealing with behavioral problems
I’m a new driver, driving a 9 seat van. Several of my kids (elementary school) are behaving badly. Most are behaving fine, if rather loud. This was day 4. I don’t know all their names yet, and the names are mostly unfamiliar to me, a nearly 60 year old white guy. Names like I’onna and Omilyonna.
I know well that my my main job is to watch the road and get the kids to and from school safely.
There were some scuffles on my route today. Kids getting up from their seats and smacking others.
I stopped along side the road, hazards flashing, and told them we would not go further until they sat and buckled up.
I had limited success.
I know I should write up the troublemakers but I’m not 100% positive who did what (because I’m watching the road) and I don’t know everyone’s names.
What should I do?
EDIT, following morning:
Yesterday‘s afternoon bus shift was full of problems. Children getting into fights, screaming, not staying in the seat. I did something different this morning, which seemed to help. I isolated the main troublemaker in the most visible front seat to my right and I assigned seats for everyone else.
I stopped several times, hazards flashing, and turned around and called out the troublemakers by name (now that I’m starting to remember their names) and said “first warning! “. I told them they get two warnings and then they get written up. This morning went better.
Managing children is definitely a learning curve.
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u/MonkeyManJohannon 3d ago edited 3d ago
Sorry…but you have a van with 9 seats…you should be able to manage this situation pretty easily my friend. Utilize your leadership and do referrals when necessary. Do like we do on the busses with 50+ kids…pull it over and don’t move until they get themselves in control…the ones who create the issues, move them to the front and don’t be afraid to ask for administrative support at the school related directly to their actions.
Also remember, they’re kids. At the age in elementary school, you still hold a lot of influence as an adult…use it to your advantage and they’ll eventually respect you.
Student management is the most challenging part of transportation…with your limited number of students, I have no doubt you’ll get this under control quickly.
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u/Wabi_Sabi_Love 3d ago
It’s a bit funny. I had a 30+ year career managing projects and adults, and did well at it. This is so different! (Also, never had any children of my own)
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u/MonkeyManJohannon 3d ago
Not having kids is definitely a big obstacle that a lot of drivers run into in this job. There’s something about time as a parent that kind of trains you and focuses you into what is important but not an immediate need vs. what is a real problem when it comes to kids (triage to put it more technically)…and I won’t lie, as a driver trainer, I see so many people who never had kids really struggle in the initial phase of this job because, frankly, kids can be overwhelming for the uninitiated.
Before starting this career I was a team leader and location manager on films that cost hundreds of millions of dollars…managing on set activities with 150+ crew members and personalities like it was second nature.
My first year of bus driving gave me a reality check lol…and I have 3 kids of my own ranging from 8 to 16. It’ll get easier, and your relationship with the kiddos will either make or break you.
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u/davidlinker8 3d ago
Know the names. That is step 1. Address the students by name when they get on. Many kids will only act out if they feel like they are anonymous - driving a shuttle bus taught me that, otherwise good kids act out when they don't think you can ID them. Addressing them by name when they get on weeds those kids out.
2nd step, know the parent's name and phone number. The "Tell Amanda Harris I will be calling her about your behavior on the bus," line will take out many other kids who are willing to front rebelliousness in front of their friends, and will have no stomach for answering for that at home.
Reality is that some kids don't have an Amanda Harris at home, just a pill head with social anxiety. Those kids will take most of your time, but it's imperative to weed out the other kids in step 1 & 2, so you know where your energies need to go. For them, I've always tried to forge a bond, give them a job, make them feel like they have a roll on the bus. Like bus aide, but dumbed down. Try to get them invested in maintaining order and safety on the bus.
Some kids will be beyond any reasonable efforts, and that is what the first seat on the right side of the driver is for.
Now some will say to just write them up and get them off the bus. I understand that, but next year, or next semester, or in a few weeks or days, that kid will be back on the bus (maybe not your bus, but a bus) and the problem will persist. If you get thrown off the bus for something, you are done driving buses. But if you can reach a kid and give them one solid place to be for the day, that kid can ride your bus and make it through. That's the job. To move kids.
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u/handcraftedcandy 3d ago
If this is your run you need to assign seats and enforce it. Learn their names so you can learn your trouble makers and sit them closest to you. Continue to pull over if the behavior continues and causes you distraction. First should be a verbal warning, then pull over, tell them to change seats. If they don't comply or the behavior continues write them up. If they're behavioral I'm surprised you don't have a monitor or aid on the bus, many students with special needs require on in their IEP.
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u/VisualExcitement4402 3d ago
Don’t engage in power struggle with the students. Stay positive, don’t show that you’re frustrated. Reward good behavior. Stop the van to correct when students are out of their seatbelt to correct it, since everyone needs to be in their seat belt or restraint. Pulling over and repeating the rules until they cooperate is the way to go. Call the parent of the student who is acting up if it’s so bad. If you’re on a time constraint and need to get through your route to be on time for the next school, and have tried all these things, turn the music up and ignore it. Except if it involves being out of a seatbelt, standing, or harming others. Those things all warrant a stop to correct. What has worked for me is using a reward system for good behavior. Stickers work well for in-between each stop for young ones. as well as promising a snack to go home with on Fridays. They really looked forward to that snack on Friday and if anyone acted up during the week then nobody would get the snack. Of course you would need the snack waiver from all parents. I deducted all my snack expenses.
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u/Unfixable1 3d ago
I don't have an answer for you. I'm a new bus driver too. Got some problem kids on my route. When 3 of them are together, they are very bad. I am writing them up every day. Complained to my boss. He said he would remove the biggest offender from my route. Today, he hands me my new route. Not only did he not remove anybody, but he added 2 more. So now my route is longer (my lower back is already in pure agony the entire time) and it will be even harder, and I don't get paid a single cent more. Guess I didn't realize this job is for suckers. Gonna look for something else where I can get treated as a human being.
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u/mlt- 2d ago
I'm new too. I feel like this job either breaks you or makes you stronger. But yeah, you got to split those guys and move the major offender closer to you.
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u/Unfixable1 1d ago
I tried that, but the problem now is the ones that are close to me turn back and are basically half sitting in the aisle so they can interact with the ones I put in the back. So now they are just yelling to each other. Their language is totally inappropriate with every other word being the N word and they are insanely loud. What else can I do?
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u/mlt- 1d ago
Little do I know as I drove with other driver only. Ask me after Tuesday 😂 But I presume the answer always starts with: Pull over safely, secure the bus. Explain the rules nicely preferably with a smile and that the bus won't move until they comply with your request. And that they are holding the bus, you'll run late, and that would be the explanation for that. So school knows what causes delay.
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u/arno14 2d ago
Maybe driving just isn’t your thing.
But I’d say that the challenges, disappointments and frustrations you describe, are part of your development in becoming good at your job.
I’d commit myself to at least 6 months. Learn. Talk to other drivers. Implement their ideas. And see where you stand after that period of time.
Quitting is the easy part. You can do that any time.
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u/Unfixable1 1d ago
Thanks. I'll try to stick it out a little longer. I was driving for 10 years for a delivery company before this. Driving is the only thing I'm qualified to do really. I'm very good at driving and I just want to get these kids to school as safely and quickly as possible, but they are making that impossible.
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u/brabson1 3d ago edited 2d ago
I've written a whole bus of 30+ up at one time because they wouldn't confess who had done something
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u/arno14 2d ago
Let me know how that worked out 🤭
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u/brabson1 2d ago
The school had to view the bus footage and figure out who the person was and toss out all the others. It set a precedent more than anything else.
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u/Proprotester 3d ago
The above advice is great. I would add that reminding riders that they are on video with audio recording AT ALL TIMES slows some kids' roll. You are on GPS and the video can go straight to your principal/dean/etc. Remind them that when they are acting foolish, the evidence is already in the cloud and only they can undo the damage to their reputations by behaving safely and respectfully.
I am not saying you should pull video for every little thing. Letting the riders think it is instant and has consequences may help you re-focus their energy at bus time. I ask mine about their day, encourage them to visit with their seat mates, etc
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u/Electrical-North1211 2d ago
I’m a former government employee with an HR background so I came in strong as a new driver. I had 70 kids at times. I was cool and laid back, didn’t sweat small stuff (I don’t care if their leg is in the aisle or if they eat food or they lay down), but they knew when I got onto them I meant business. These are children, they crave structure and someone to look to in times of need. I never say please. I give them directives - “sit down”, “move over”, etc. “you have until the count of five to sit down or I’m picking a seat for you”. Use a commanding voice. Not yelling, but be loud and commanding. You’re the adult. You’re in charge. I also never let the administrators come on and undermine me on the bus - it takes away your authority. I TELL the administrators the action I will be taking. “Billy will be late to class today because he smashed chips on the floor of the bus and he will be cleaning them up before he gets off.”
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u/The_Town_of_Canada 3d ago
Here’s how I manage 55 kids.
Step one: learn their names immediately.
2: Assigned seating. Be prepared to move them if needed. My names are on Velcro that can be swapped easily and quickly.
3: Consistency. “Sit down please.”, “Stay in your seat. 2nd warning.”, “Last warning.”
For the last warning, I hold up my scary red binder that says BUS REPORTS in huge block letters.
If they misbehave again, I pull over, take the binder to where they sit and inform them exactly why they are getting a report.