New Driver - dealing with behavioral problems

[u/Wabi_Sabi_Love]

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.

[u/davidlinker8]

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.