I was beat up on the bus once.  He just kept hitting my forehead over and over, I tried to block him but it wasn't in me to fight back.  He got suspended from the bus(not school for 3days).  This was in a nice small town in MN, going to catholic school.

I friend of mine was sexually abused by a boy in the back of a school bus. She turned him in.

Lynette Dec. 8, 2008 at 5:52 PM

My son has been dealing with bullies on the bus since kindergarten. After many complaints to the bus driver and to the school nothing has been done yet. After speaking to the parents of the worst offenders though it has quited down again. Thank goodness. He is now in 7th grade and that is a long time dealing with the abuse he keeps getting on a daily basis.

My3Sons3121 Dec. 8, 2008 at 7:22 PM

Another good reason to homeschool.  Better socialization. 

mancosmomma Dec. 8, 2008 at 7:25 PM

I got teased on the bus as a kid. Those kids were mean, I was only in first grade and they were in junior high! They should have known better. I also learned a lot of dirty words from the older kids that shocked my mom! The worst was when some kids told a retarded older kid to sit next to me and commanded him to kiss me. How did the bus driver not see these things? I know they are driving, but really. Now there are bus assistants who ride the buses in our area to keep an eye on the kids.

Guaranteed Dec. 8, 2008 at 7:38 PM

My youngest granddaughter started Kindergarten this year.  She had been in pre-school prior.  When she started school I said to her, "If any kid tries to push you around or hits, pinches, or hurts you in any way you first go tell the teacher.  If that doesn't help then you slam the Poo out of them!!!   She took me at my word. LOL  My daughter, even though she laughed, said maybe I shouldn't have told her that.   My kids (all grown now with kids of their own) never had bullying problems.  I told them the same thing I told my granddaughter.  It may not work this day and time I don't know but I would give it a shot.  Kids today seem so much meaner and hateful.  I may be wrong but I personally think the kids need to learn very early on to take up for themselves and protect themselves.  ~~~Linda (aka MeMa)

Tx2Step Dec. 8, 2008 at 7:40 PM

I am a school bus driver and I find this appalling. I guess what I find is that it all depends on who is handling transportation. Not to start anything here, but I am finding that if school bus transportation departments are held accountable to the school and not to a private company more is done and more drivers and monitors are held accountable. I for one drive 71 children in the morning to school every single day. I know what is going on, on my bus. So does 125 of my fellow drivers as well who know what is going on on theirs as well. Drivers who do not know what is going on and/or let this go on because they do not want to get involved is doing a disservice to all of us who are doing our jobs as school bus drivers. Please do not put all of us school bus drivers into this one category. What few who have ruined it, have ruined it for the many. I too have had problems as a child on the school bus. But as my supervisors have told me this, how do I want to be remembered? Again, I have posted this to our web board on Cafe Mom. Expect other bus drivers to post here. Good luck I will be monitoring this discussion.

jns131 Dec. 8, 2008 at 9:37 PM

i am also a bus driver and its is also appalling to me that we turn these students in and guess what your school priciples are the ones that decide what happens also this same thing happens in classrooms with 1 teacher and 25-30 students we drive any where between 60 to 70 students to 1 driver and still have to watch the road other cars and your children now ,yes we might not see everything but we do see alot and you can bet it gets turned into the principle at the school what they do is up to them our job is getting them to and from safety..bus driver 9 years

gonewthwindfan Dec. 8, 2008 at 9:49 PM

I am a bus driver for 18 years, each year it gets harder to control the children.  We now have cameras (3) on the buses.  It is to protect the drivers as well as the students.  The parents do not believe the drivers when we tell them their student is misbehaving.  Smaller kids are harder to see and so there are a lot of things we don't catch.  I tell the kids NOT to hit back but to let me know.  I don't allow hitting even when playing as it soon becomes serious.  Three days off for hitting  and other processes for other behaviors.  The principals do not become involve with our actions unless it is serious.  The district has policies and the students can loose the privilege of riding the bus.  I agree that there are drivers who do not care and allow students to stand, hit, and harrass others.  When a driver that follows rules and care about all students take over, then it is heck until the students decide to get along.  That is where the parents should support the driver.  But unfortunately all parents do not support those drivers.  Each day is a great time to help students learn the right way to ride a bus.   I'm considered a mean driver, but you can ride my bus and not get off with a headache.  You are not abused or bullied on my bus and yet when the students cooperate there's treats and everyone gets home safely.

kittymbush Dec. 8, 2008 at 10:27 PM

Although we dont want to teach our children aggression, we have to let them know the importance of defending themselves. I have 4 sons and 1 daughter, they all take Karate, and even their instructors encourage defending their rights. I was in fights as a youngster, and a teenager, along with being too old to be fighting. I do what I have to to defend my kids.

I think it is awful for children to fighting on their way to be learning. The bus ride should be a quiet, peaceful one. I drive my kids to school because of all the problems on the bus. I feel nobody has control. How can they when they are driving, and what does the school do??

reality-5 Dec. 8, 2008 at 10:44 PM

I just wanted to say I know not all bus drivers should be put into a category o not caring. But what do you do with one who actually even instigates the behaviors?!?! My sons bus driver in 5th grade would not let them speak on the bus and told them that if they needed to insult my son that they should write it down and give it to him! And the current bus driver has had so many complaints and even a petition against her (not by me but I did sign it happily) when this lady gets mad one of her retaliations to the kids is to slam the brakes so they go face first into the seats! Im am at a loss, all the abuse my son gets on the bus never gets reported and when he says something to her , her response to him is "sit down and be quiet". M son loves to ride the bus, I dont know why, and is autistic so this has been a very stressful thing for him and us as parents.

My3Sons3121 Dec. 8, 2008 at 11:18 PM