“From the time the school children get in the bus on evenings it does be bare trouble,” – The driver of 35 years said . . . (Taken from the WEEKEND NATION, Friday, September 25)
I CAN ATTEST to the above statement. I travel on the Oistins/College Savannah bus. This bus picks up schoolchildren from The Lodge School, Princess Margaret and St Martin’s Four Roads Primary. The drivers, in a misguided act of kindness, accommodate all the children who want to get on this bus. As a result, the children, many hot and sweaty with bags on their backs, are packed on the bus like sardines. This gives rise to all sorts of bad behaviour.
It is particularly disturbing to hear the cursing, swearing and vulgarity that come out of the mouths of some of these children. Added to that, in the crush, some of the girls take advantage of the opportunity to sit on the laps of the boys. The innocent and the little ones from St Martin’s Four Roads and the regular passengers are forced to endure the obscenities emanating from some of these children.
It is impossible for the drivers to see what is going on in a crowded bus. I therefore, suggest that conductors or attendants be placed on every school bus, and that drivers of passenger buses be told not to tolerate any noise on the buses. Schoolchildren should know that loud noise and bad behaviour would result in their being put off the bus. There are a few drivers who already adopt this policy. They even insist that the students dress appropriately before getting on the bus. I take my hat off to them.
At a time when Government cannot afford to hire conductors, I am suggesting that a volunteer system be introduced. Anyone who volunteers to be a school bus conductor or attendant should be given bus passes which would entitle them to travel free of cost on any bus just as members of the Police Force do.
I am sure that the introduction of these conductors or attendants would eliminate or greatly reduce the incidence of bad behaviour among school children on our buses.
– E. JEROME DAVIS