Page 14 | No mask so school bus left my DD

onanislandfaraway · 2021-06-14T21:34:15+00:00

Both me and my DP was at work today so my 13yo DD has to be home alone for a couple of hours until DP gets home at 6pm. I texted her asking did she get home OK and she told me she'd lost her mask during a sports session at school and that the school bus wouldn't let her on so left her at school. She didn't want to hassle me or DP at work so rang her nan to pick her up and thank god she was able to and only lives a 15 minute drive away so wasn't waiting around too long. Her school is in the next town over to where we live so way too far for her to walk home. AIBU to think that the school bus is responsible for getting children home and should not have just left her at the school? Shouldn't they have spare masks just incase of instances like this? I will of course be making sure she has plenty of spare masks in her bag, to be honest she did use to carry a few spares but didn't happen to have any today. I am quite angry that they've done this.

toocold54 · 15/06/2021 22:02

Well wait a minute...why do the job then?!
I don't get it!

Are you seriously that ignorant that you don’t realise people have jobs they don’t like or that are difficult but they can’t quit because they need the money to pay their bills. Surely that’s not difficult to understand?!

As part of his role he has to turn away anyone not wearing a mask so therefore he is doing his job properly.

imforourfreedomback · 15/06/2021 22:10

@toocold54

*Well wait a minute...why do the job then?! I don't get it!*

Are you seriously that ignorant that you don’t realise people have jobs they don’t like or that are difficult but they can’t quit because they need the money to pay their bills. Surely that’s not difficult to understand?!

As part of his role he has to turn away anyone not wearing a mask so therefore he is doing his job properly.

His job is take the kids from A to b safely and not play God with who gets on the bus and who doesn't. These are children we are talking about. What's happening to being kind and human?

Sinthie · 15/06/2021 22:15

Completely unreasonable to leave a young girl alone for the sake of a largely ineffective piece of cloth.

Sinthie · 15/06/2021 22:15

And possibly a safeguarding issue. Complain.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 15/06/2021 22:22

If he lets children on without masks he'd probably have other parents complaining.
He's probably been told not to let children on without masks.

Saying someone should be sacked for following the rules I ridiculous.

The rule may be ridiculous... But complain to the bus company about the rule not the driver for enforcing it.

OP... Your child losing their mask is not a reflection on your parenting. Worrying about your child is natural. Just make she's knows what to do if she misses the bus for whatever reason again.

Boomisshiss · 15/06/2021 22:30

@imforourfreedomback actually the bus driver does get to decide to who can and can’t go on the bus . If they aren’t willing to follow the rules of carriage that was agreed when the parents applied for the bus placement .

toocold54 · 15/06/2021 22:35

His job is take the kids from
A to b safely and not play God with who gets on the bus and who doesn't.
These are children we are talking about. What's happening to being kind and human?

It’s not about playing God it’s about doing his job the way he is told to. These aren’t his rules, he hasn’t just randomly made them up. Why is he going to risk loosing his job because one person wants to break the rules.

imforourfreedomback · 15/06/2021 22:38

@toocold54

His job is take the kids from A to b safely and not play God with who gets on the bus and who doesn't. These are children we are talking about. What's happening to being kind and human?

It’s not about playing God it’s about doing his job the way he is told to. These aren’t his rules, he hasn’t just randomly made them up. Why is he going to risk loosing his job because one person wants to break the rules.

I'm sure he could have applied common sense. At the end of the day she's a child. The most human thing to do was to allow her on the bus taker home and tell her this is a one off or something. It's unacceptable to leave a child behind because of some useless piece of cloth.

Sleepyblueocean · 15/06/2021 22:39

"Well wait a minute...why do the job then?!
I don't get it!"

Such middle class naivety.

imforourfreedomback · 15/06/2021 22:41

@Sleepyblueocean

"Well wait a minute...why do the job then?! I don't get it!"

Such middle class naivety.

Wow let's start with insults then shall we? I'm sure there are plenty of people out there wanting a job ( after losing their job due to Covid). So if he doesn't like it find something else. Simples sweetheart 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sleepyblueocean · 15/06/2021 22:49

Yes you are right. He should be so grateful.

AquaPandora · 15/06/2021 22:54

Anyone wanting to inflict a responsibility on the driver is not reasonable in their expectations imho

the bus driver was not at fault. I dont agree with the draconic rules, but his job is to drive, not being a social worker/teacher/parent/assistant/psycholog/mind reader.

If you need to find a solution, pay for a person who will supervise your kids getting into the bus, talk to the school, to the council (not that they can change rules), so maybe better to write a petition to your MP

why we are even talking about the bus driver who did his job properly?
I would like to see a poll how many of you would be willing to lose your jobs breaking the rules other people would vilify you for (the other parents in this case), but be real and honest, not just keybord heros

Boomisshiss · 15/06/2021 22:55

The driver did apply his common sense and followed the rules that everyone signed up to agree too. No special cases as where would they end. Plus it isn’t for him to pick and choose who has to follow the rules and who doesn’t. I’ve received multiple emails over the course of the year clearly stating no mask no bus. It’s not a new concept it’s been the law for a while now.

imforourfreedomback · 15/06/2021 22:57

@Sleepyblueocean

Yes you are right. He should be so grateful.

Well to be frank he should be. So many people have lost their jobs so in actual fact he should be grateful

imforourfreedomback · 15/06/2021 22:59

@Boomisshiss

The driver did apply his common sense and followed the rules that everyone signed up to agree too. No special cases as where would they end. Plus it isn’t for him to pick and choose who has to follow the rules and who doesn’t. I’ve received multiple emails over the course of the year clearly stating no mask no bus. It’s not a new concept it’s been the law for a while now.

It's not the law!!🤦🏻‍♀️

When are you sheep going to understand that it's not the law...

ThinWomansBrain · 15/06/2021 23:05

@onanislandfaraway

0None0

I just thought as official school transport they would have spares in cases like these.

Why can't your daughter carry a spare in case she loses hers?

Boomisshiss · 15/06/2021 23:06

Premises where face coverings are required should take reasonable steps to promote compliance with the law.

The police can take measures if members of the public do not comply with this law without a valid exemption and transport operators can deny access to their public transport services if a passenger is not wearing a face covering, or direct them to wear one or leave a service.

If necessary the police and Transport for London (TfL) officers have enforcement powers, including issuing fines of £200 (reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days) for the first offence.

Repeat offenders receiving fines on public transport or in an indoor setting will have their fines doubled at each offence.

After the first offence there will be no discount. For example, receiving a second fine will amount to £400 and a third fine will be £800, up to a maximum value of £6,400.
From the UK government site

Worstyear2020 · 15/06/2021 23:10

My DD's school specifically ask all students to keep spare masks in their school bags.

Boomisshiss · 15/06/2021 23:10

Also states here private hire companies are included

There are some places where you must wear a face covering by law, unless you are exempt or have a reasonable excuse

In England you must wear a face covering in the following indoor settings (examples are given in brackets):

public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams and buses)
taxis and private hire vehicles

MrsBungle · 15/06/2021 23:13

@imforourfreedomback school bus drivers do have quite a difficult job. As school SLT, I’ve dealt with many issues that have occurred on school buses. It must be stressful for drivers. Last week I dealt with some kids who opened the fire/safety escape window and jumped off the back off the bus in to traffic. Daily, there’s fighting/arguing/shouting whilst the driver tries to Safely navigate the roads.

This is why, in my schools, we ensure there’s staff in bus parks to support pupils and the drivers as much as we can. I’m grateful that all of the drivers that work with our kids seem to do an excellent job which can be really stressful!

k1233 · 15/06/2021 23:27

I don't know. Usually I agree with natural consequences, but where I live this exact situation - child not picked up by a bus - had fatal consequences.

Daniel Morcombe, a 13 year old, was abducted and killed. The circumstances around his death have lead to a "no child left behind" policy. You can google for more info.

I would think that a school bus with a policy of no mask, no transport, should have a stock of spares available so children aren't left behind.

As I said, usually I'm in the natural consequences camp, but I think the potential unintended consequences in this situation require something to be done so children can get home safely. In which case I would raise with the school.

CCC11 · 15/06/2021 23:36

I live in Australia and after the Daniel Morcombe case where a bus driver left the child we have a "no child left behind" policy. Even if the child doesn't have money for the bus fare the bus driver still has to let them on. This should be in place everywhere.

melj1213 · 15/06/2021 23:41

where I live this exact situation - child not picked up by a bus - had fatal consequences.

That was a totally different circumstance to the OP though. Tragic though the case was, the boy was at an unofficial, rural bus stop where the bus passed him instead of stopping, he was not standing outside his school, at the end of the school day, in the knowledge that there were teachers and/or other staff available to help when the bus left him behind.

AquaPandora · 15/06/2021 23:44

@k1233

I don't know. Usually I agree with natural consequences, but where I live this exact situation - child not picked up by a bus - had fatal consequences.

Daniel Morcombe, a 13 year old, was abducted and killed. The circumstances around his death have lead to a "no child left behind" policy. You can google for more info.

I would think that a school bus with a policy of no mask, no transport, should have a stock of spares available so children aren't left behind.

As I said, usually I'm in the natural consequences camp, but I think the potential unintended consequences in this situation require something to be done so children can get home safely. In which case I would raise with the school.

I agree heartfully with the no child left behind policy. But its not the driver´s responsibility to make decisions on conflicting rules. The school, the council, the MP is responsible to make it easy for bus drivers to do what is normal, ie no child left behind.

Is this policy superior of other existing rules? It should be, so the bus driver would not be forced to chose between this policy and the actual law and potentially losing his job for it as the other parents would be very vocal if he didnt adhere to the rules

I just repeat: no one can put that kind of responsibility on a bus driver imho, if the rules and policies and laws are conflicting

blaming the bus driver is barking on the wrong tree. If the parents mean it seriously, do something for it (other than vilifying the bus drivers who just follow the law)

ilovesooty · 15/06/2021 23:44

[quote MrsBungle]@imforourfreedomback school bus drivers do have quite a difficult job. As school SLT, I’ve dealt with many issues that have occurred on school buses. It must be stressful for drivers. Last week I dealt with some kids who opened the fire/safety escape window and jumped off the back off the bus in to traffic. Daily, there’s fighting/arguing/shouting whilst the driver tries to Safely navigate the roads.

This is why, in my schools, we ensure there’s staff in bus parks to support pupils and the drivers as much as we can. I’m grateful that all of the drivers that work with our kids seem to do an excellent job which can be really stressful![/quote]
Good to hear that you support the bus drivers in this way.

There will still be people saying that he should be so grateful to have a job at all. This driver was probably someone's husband doing his job this the requirements in place in order to support his family.