OT--Am I wrong to be angry??

[Luv Bunnies]

If the bus driver was the only adult on the bus, he/she would not be allowed to leave the bus to knock on the door. I work in a special needs preschool and our kids get door to door bus service. The driver expects the parents to be waiting outside with their kids at their appointed pick-up time. If they're not there and they're not chronically late families (some are never on time), she will use her cell phone to call into the house. She's not allowed to wait more than 2 minutes for the child to come out.

As many posters stated above, it sounds like your situation was a miscommunication. It's too bad your son had to miss his field trip. I would definitely talk to the teacher, principal and/or bus driver to find out what happened.

 

[Liltx]

It sounds like both sides were at fault. You assumed things and so did the bus driver and teacher. As a teacher I would have called before the bus left.

The only way to fix it has also past. Why wouldn't you drive him to meet the class at the field trip? No matter whose fault it was I think he still could have attended even if it was an hour drive.

I feel terrible for your son but I would not blame the teacher.

Monica

 

[Steph9072]

First off your poor ds. How heartbreaking that young to plan on something big like that and mis out. Quick question though if the museum was only and hour a way why didn't dh just drive ds. As slow as buses are he probably would have gotten there about he same time as the other students.

That being said if the teacher knew you all had plan to attend and the you didn't call ds in sick then it would have been a nice jester to call and see what was up.

My dd is in kindergarten so this was our first year dealing with the bus. Not know what to expect I asked questions lots of questions. What time will be picked up when will she be dropped off what to do if she is sick that type of thing and so forth. So I was prepared the first day.

Dd's bus driver will slow down. Only stopping if she sees dd. She will not honk. There have been a few mornings when dd was running to the bus stop when she was coming down the road and she warned us that if dd is not at the stop she will not stop the buss.

My dd is the 2nd to the last stop she is picked up at 7:25 am school starts at 8:00. But school gets out at 3:05 and dd is home between 3:50 & 4:00. Bus Routes are long. So I would say you probably missed the bus.


Sounds like a mis communications. Next field trip you will know to ask what time the bus is coming or just plan on taking ds to the school yourself.

Hopefully dh and ds can do a daddy & son trip to the museum to make up for missing it.

Steph

 

[seashoreCM]

I would not expect school bus drivers to stop where no kids are visible (blocking traffic) or to honk horns (making noise), although in my town they sometimes do it sporadically, not regularly.

So this leaves only one choice for you, be waiting outside.

If a regularly routed school bus does not show up, for example the driver took a wrong turn, the child(ren) should not be given an unexcused absence or tardy if they don't get to school.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

Here if you aren't waiting the bus won't stop. They don't have time to wait for each kid. Also I agree with the OP, the bus driver can't leave a bunch of kids on the bus alone to go to individual doors. That would be dangerous.

Sorry he missed the field trip.

 

[mla1977]

My 2 cents - My BF's brother (10) gets picked up in front of the house everyday (busy street and an elementary school bus, so there aren't group bus stops). The driver comes to a complete stop and if he isn't outside he honks, waits for about 5-10 seconds and then keeps driving. If he sees the door open then he will wait for him to come out.

Added: One thing I forgot to say about our situation. From the direction the bus is coming, there are a lot of trees, so the bus has to come almost to a complete stop to see if he is waiting. We are close to the road, so he can wait on the front steps. We wouldn't want him waiting by the road because of the people speeding (limit 40mph, but the police don't start enforcing it until 50mph and I've only seen them 2-3 times since we moved in, except in the school zone up the street).

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I think you were wrong. It was your responsiblity to find out what time the bus would be there. You should be outside waiting for a bus, not inside. They are not going to honk, or knock on your door. That is not their job. And getting 13 kids wihtin 25 minutes is unrealistic. You are asking them to stop for each kid & only be there for 2 minutes. This may or may not happen. It might take longer. I don't know the distance you are from school,m but travel time in the morning can take longer.
If your dh was to be a chaperone, didn't they tell him what time to be at the school? Once it got to be 7:45, why not call the school & find out what happened or at that point, go over to the school? if your dh was to be a chaperone, why were you asking that the bus pick your child up anyway?
For all the teacher knew, something happened & you were not coming. She cannot hold up the entire trip.
Just wondering if you are going to pop back in & answer some questins. Thanks!