AIBU about this text from ds school

[myfallingstar]

Recived a text today saying that their is a bus strike and no buses are running all children are expected to be at school on time and private arrangements should be made

I think it's a little off what arrangemnts should be made exactly if your parents don't drive and they themslefs rely on the buses then what the hell is the school expecting to happen also of people are having to walk to school they have to expect some lateness ffs

This is not the the 1950s were children going to the local school nearst to their home some of the children including dd live over the other side of the LA

Would you expect the teachers to be there on time or would you accept their lateness, given the fact that they had notice of a strike?

I thought not

Yabu. It's not the school you should have issues with, it's the issues that have put workers in the position of having to go on strike and lose a days pay that you should be getting cross over

When you rely on public transport you should always have a back up. you cannot say oh but what about those who don't drive or whatever.
You have a backup and you think about this before applying for school, work etc.
You let your dc's know what to do in certain scenarios - loose their bus pass, buses stopped because of weather (this happened a few years ago), strikes etc.

I didn't know about the strike I only once I got the text dh can drop dd off early just rung the school to see if they will let early birds into the libuary

Answer NO

So ds will have to sit in tesco cafe with a book and a fry until it's time to go in

It is impossible to tell the tone in which a text message was written. It is all personal perception.

We had a similar email. It wasn't arsey or harsh, it was factual.

I agree OP that it's all in the tone if the communication. However I think they pitch it at the feckless and therefore assume that arsey emails ( and our school does them too) are not aimed at me, but the usual suspects who are always late etc.

They will be expecting some lateness. But to tell an entire school full of parents that you don't mind if they get their children to school late is pretty much inviting half of them not to bother even trying to be on time.

If the school is firm that it expects children on time, then the ones who are late despite trying their best will be there by 9.30 instead of 11.00.

Well that's exactly the issue. We are in partnership with schools over the education of our children and it's not wise for organisations to talk to partners as if they are enemies. Yes there are those who are always late but they won't change. A useful correspondence would be "Dear parents, just to alert you to the fact that there is a bus strike tomorrow. School will be operating normal hours". Ie, nothing has changed.

It's the same with letters when your child is ill saying "steps may be taken". This is not how you correspond with users of a service. This is how you correspond with misusers.

You really consider your school aged children as "users of a service", Quangle?

The strike was announced a while ago. Last week's was called off at 11th hour, so I expect quite a lot of people were hoping that it would be called off again. Confirmation it was definitely going ahead came through mid/late afternoon today.

So a text to warn people gives them a chance to plan their routes this evening, rather than being caught on the hop tomorrow at a deserted bus stop and with no time to spare.

It's very easy to get the time wrong in a text, or other brief written note.

I don't see a problem with the school expecting them to be at school on time.

If they're not, it's not like they're going to get beaten and thrown in the chokey...

OP, you are being rididulous. As other posters have said, there are several other ways of getting your DCs to school. If that means you need to leave home earlier, then so be it. If you're not sure how long it will take, then err on the side of caution and leave earlier than you think you should.

Also, because it's a senior school it's not unheard of for kids to take the piss, by getting up late and blaming it on the bus strike.

That's probably why the text makes it clear they want them there on time.

More that I am. That's why I said I'm a partner with the school in their education. There are rules that both sides abide by and it's a two way relationship. Compared to, say, them being a traffic warden and me being an errant motorist.

I don't see the problem - we also have a bus strike so I will leave home stupidly early, drop DS at school early and then take my others to school. Do you not get a class list or have a year group Facebook page where you could ask how others are managing it? Worse case scenario secondary kids in London should be able to walk or taxi share with others

yabu

'Walking for an hour with a child under 10 in this weather'

oh get a grip, unless the child has mobility problems they can walk even if the temperature is under 5c

I think yabu (and I say that as a non driver who relies on buses)

Look at it this way, if you got a bus to work and there was a bus strike you'd find an alternative way in, yes? School really shouldn't be any different. You either walk, get a taxi or find somebody to give you a lift. It's not ideal but it's doable.

Unless it is really impossible, you should go in. The information from my head was it was school as normal, but he did warn that many students may be late but he expects staff in on time. I doubt kids will get in trouble for being late tomorrow, but they will expect them in (unless it is impossible to get in). i checked today with my form and everybody can get in except one who recently moved and lives out of the area (gets 2 buses and a tube).

myfallingstar - how did he get on?