Editorials, like blogs, are filled with opinions. But some can miss the mark, especially when not recognizing all the possible outcomes of your suggestions.
A recent editorial in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat called for the elimination of school bus service to save teaching positions, extracurricular activities and so on. The cuts would save the St. Louis-area Lindbergh School District about $1.6 million annually, according to the unnamed writer. And his/her solution for students to get to school?
“Parents of course. Or other relatives. Or neighbors. Or friends.”
I work a normal five-day work week and my wife goes about shuttling our four children to school while I’m here in the STN offices, tapping away at my keyboard. She has to drive to three different schools every day: one preschool, one elementary and a high school, all in different parts of the same city. It is a feat that she somehow accomplishes without the use of the yellow bus, but many are not so fortunate.
I am curious whether the author of this editorial has children, and if he or she has to transport them to and from school every day. If not, this editorial comes from someone who should speak to more than just one source (themselves) before attempting to put together a piece on cutting school bus service. What about the single mom who works eight- to 10-hour days and relies on the school bus as the only means for her children to make it to school every day? What options are available to her?
What about the special needs student that requires specialized services to receive a proper education? Should we ignore the rights of these children that are guaranteed under IDEA? At the next IEP meeting, should we inform parents that their children won’t be getting the necessary transportation to provide them with the free and appropriate education that they have a right to?
And I haven’t even touched on the safety issues involved with suddenly adding more students and more cars to the roadways. With school bus-related deaths drastically lower than those involving passenger vehicles, can you imagine the effects of cutting school bus service in any community? And that’s not to mention the access to education that school busing can provide.
Don’t get me wrong, I have definitely spoken too soon on a number of topics in the past and made my own assumptions and statements that needed further research. My only suggestion is to visit the article and leave a comment or two to give the writer an insider’s look into the issue.
