Theresa Walsh Giarrusso is not only a mother of three but also a blog writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Web site. And she’s a fan of the school bus.
But in yesterday’s post, she shared with readers why she recently decided to remove her son from his bus because he was getting into trouble on his way home from school. It’s a decision, Giarrusso says, that has resulted in several positives for her children, despite the fact that the time she now spends walking her kids has but a cramp in her work schedule.
Aside from the obvious safety concerns of parents opting to take their kids to school rather than put them on the bus, it’s ultimately the parent’s decision, despite the best intentions and wishes of those in the pupil transportation industry. Sometimes it’s simply not feasible for all students to ride the yellow school bus. Add to that today’s economic environment, when school bus service is being reduced or cut entirely, parents are increasingly having no choice but to find another mode for their children to get to school.
In Giarrusso’s case, her children are young (judging by their photos on her page), and the family lives far enough away from school that she drives half-way there, parks her car and walks her kds the remaining half-mile. She mentions that she likes the fact her children are getting at least that much exercise per day, and they’re allowed to get an additional half-hour of sleep, something that recent research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found is a growing problem for today’s youth, at least in teenagers.Giarrusso’s kids also get home 30 minutes sooner each day, and the family is spending more quality time together.
Giarrusso doesn’t rule out a return to the school bus, but, for now, the walk is working out just fine. I’m sure it also helps that the Atlanta area has thawed out from the recent wintry weather. But it demonstrates that options do exist, whether those also include biking or walking, transit passes or rides in cars and trucks, even those, gulp, provided by teen drivers.
As much as possible, the school bus should be the preferred mode of travel, but now more than ever I think the pupil transportation industry and school districts should communicate to parents and the community at-large that school busing is a privilege and not a right. But, on the same token, transportation must fight to be stakeholders in providing or assisting in the safest routes possible, no matter the decision the parents or students make. Certainly this is not an easy step to take, but it could well be worth it in the long-term.
What are your thoughts on how or if school transportation departments should be part of the discussion when it comes to Safe Routes to School? School construction zones? Teen driving programs?
