@InTheDrunkTank I strongly disagree that “every 13 year old should have the sense to get home from the next town” I wonder if you have children? Do you live in a rural area that would be quite dangerous to walk even as an adult? Are you aware some children have disorders that may make them unable to think critically? What if a child didn’t have money or a phone on them, yep that’s the parents responsibility but should a child be put at risk if a parent fucks up? I know my child was left at school I just mean in general.
@Iggly
Why do you have an issue with me? I just felt a bit concerned the day this happened and wanted a little rant on here. I didn’t expect it to blow up. Please read my post on p13.
I am not blaming the bus driver for not letting her on because she lost her mask, all I am saying is would it have hurt that he not said to her to make sure she goes back into school, or checked she had a mobile phone on her or asked her if she was able to find a teacher to explain to. He didn’t, as far as I am aware he just refused to let her on.
I do realise that a 13 year old girl being left at the school gates isn’t really an issue. My issue is that there doesn’t seem to be anything in place for children who lose, or have their masks stolen, they can then not board the school transport. I accept that I should have ensured she had plenty of spares. I’m not making a big drama about it I’m just thinking it would be a good idea to have boxes of spares on the bus that are provided by the school as it’s official school transport who could then charge the parents if their child ends up using them.
THINK about this, there’s not many staff in the top car park where the school buses drive off from. A young/less abled child may not think to take the 5 minute walk back down the hill into school to tell staff what’s happened, nor may they be able to contact anyone. And even a very capable child may try to get hold of others for a little while with no luck, or wait until say 4 or 5 when mam or dad get home from work then ring, not be able to get hold of them and then walk back down to school to find there’s no one there.
Another child may not want to bother others and begin the walk home alone. That may not be an issue if the route home is safe but if my DD had done that as said earlier it’s about 5 miles through a forest and very narrow bendy village lanes that I wouldn’t even walk through as an adult.
Of course we need to allow our children to gain their own independence and learn to critical think for themselves, but some like my youngest ASD child may not have that capacity when she’s my eldest’s age. We should all take responsibility as capable adults, children think their invincible, yes give them chance to grow and make their own mistakes but don’t wash your hands of responsibility because you can’t be bothered.
I GET IT! She’s 13 and was left at school, she’s not a 5 year old left in Timbuctoo
BUT
Any adult who refuses to give a child a lift home as planned should at least check that child can make other arrangements or knows to go back in to school and not watch her walk off out of school grounds without knowing if she has a phone or any other way of getting home! That’s it! I don’t leave my 30 year old girl friends on their own until I check they can get home OK, it’s called common decency!