A schoolbus just came by. . .

[jinman]

. . . at 6:35 am. It's still very dark outside and we aren't anywhere near to the shortest days of the season. My road has the first/earliest pickup for the schoolbus. There's a little 10 yo girl (daughter of a fireman) who rides the bus to school about 10 miles away. Knowing what I know about kids, I'd bet her mom has to start getting her up at least by 5:00 am so she can be dressed and fed and out front to catch the bus. I'm sure this is common in my area and probably many others. I may have become an ol' softy, but it just seems that bus drivers, parents, and children who do this daily need to be commended. School is so much more than sitting in a classroom. It's dedication mixed with a lot of love. God bless everyone and keep them safe.

 

[wjoerob]

I still take my 17-yr.-old daughter, a junior, out to catch the bus. We have a LONG driveway. They started back to school Aug. 17th. This last week, it's been pretty dark when we go out there. And it will only get worse for a while. They changed the Daylight Savings Time change so now it comes in November or something. Wouldn't be so bad, except the dome light in the pickup doesn't work. I get the newspaper when I go out, but can't read it until I get back to the house.

 

[n8wrl]

Around here (rural SC) K-5 kids go first with bus pickup times ~6:30am. Then Jr and Sr High around 7:30. I know they all share the same buses, but it makes no sense to me that the little kids go so much earlier. As I recall it was the opposite when I was a kid - in high school I caught a 6:15 bus and was out of school at 2:30 so I could go to work!

 

[Mike Costello]

My 3 daughters are up at 5.30AM and leave to catch the bus by 6.50AM. They walk about 1/3 mile to the bus stop. In bad weather, I'll take them to the stop and wait with them.
I've chatted with the bus driver--he's a real saint with good humor and lots of patience. He won't put up with bad behavior and yet the kids all respect him. My hat is off to him.

 

[charlz]

I dunno what's worse the earlier times or the later times. Last year my kids were both in grade school so the bus picked them up at 8:15am and dropped them off at 4:15pm. Makes it tough when both parents work, fortunately I have a job where I can work from home or do most of my job with Blackberry email and cellphone.

This year my daughter is in middle school so the bus picks her up at 7:05 and drops her off about 3:15pm. At least with that schedule you have a fighting chance of getting to work on time in the morning

 

[scgargoyle]

There's a bus picking up in our neighborhood at 5:30 AM.

 

[jinman]

There's a bus picking up in our neighborhood at 5:30 AM.

Maybe I should just ask a question. At what hour do you say that's too early? At what hour does riding the bus become a liability rather than an asset? Does it make sense to put your kid on the bus when it's three hours until the first class begins? I would hate to be a parent who had to make that decision. For years I got up at 4:30 am and left for work by 6:30 for a 1-1/2 hour commute. If I had to leave at 5:30, I think I'd find another job or move closer.

 

[Uncle Doug]

The high school bus picks up along our road well before 6am. School starts at 7:20 am. This routine was started several years ago when the buses started making 2 runs each route to cut down on the number of buses and drivers. Most that can afford it will drive their kids to school then the kids ride the bus home.

 

[chucko]

My wife drives a bus. First stop is 5:00am

 

[Bird]

Really big changes in school busses and schedules, as with everything else. I don't remember what time the bus came, but when I was a kid and rode a school bus, I got up at 5:30 a.m., went to the barn and milked the cow, then ate breakfast, and then caught the bus. And both then, and when I drove a school bus (1960-61), all 12 grades rode the same bus on the same route and schedule. When I drove the bus, I was working another job from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., so I'd get off work at 6 a.m., drive about 16 miles to get the bus, then stop for coffee and donut at a local shop with the other 3 drivers, before going on the route.