By Sue Staton

Every day in Clark County and all over the U.S., while schools are in session, a big yellow school bus is a major part of the school year.

I would like to bring attention to the school bus drivers and the school bus monitors everywhere.

For a new kindergarten child, the big yellow bus coming to pick them up is both scary and exciting. It usually means they have come to be known as a big boy or girl even though they are still small. Mothers put their children on the bus and pray that they will be safe and be returned home safely that afternoon after a day of school.

This usually happens, and when it doesn’t, some problems or wrecks could have been as a result of an unruly child on the bus.

It is important that kids are taught to mind on the school bus.

There is a lot that goes into the safe delivery of a child to school and back home.

One of the rules that seems so hard to impress on the bus kids today is keeping their feet out of the aisle for the safety of themselves and the other kids.

It is hard for a bus driver to drive a bus and concentrate on the countless things he or she needs to, plus keep an eye on those kids who do not seem to want to mind and continually keep their feet in the aisle.

I have heard stories of when the bus monitor speaks to the kids about following the rules of the bus, they hear smart-mouthed kids sassing them and not wanting to mind.

Some of the other dangers are kids singing too loud, which also creates a distraction for the bus driver. Even though they are told to tone down their voice, it does not happen.

Is it me or do kids not have respect for an adult anymore?

To ride a school bus is a privilege to keep their parents from having to take them back and forth to school. Kids need to be taught to mind the bus driver and the monitors on the school bus.

I am shocked when I hear stories of how brazen and disrespectful kids are anymore, and it is usually the high school kids who should be setting an example for the younger kids.

I think it all goes back to being taught to have respect at home. If we did not respect our teachers or bus driver, when I grew up, I know what would have happened at my home.

I think I could stop a lot of problems quickly on a school bus if I were in charge. It would be on the point system, and after two reprimands, the third time would be no more riding the bus for a month and they would have to get to school on their own.

Evidently, the discipline of acting up on the bus has not been strict enough or the kids would not be getting worse.

It usually is pretty obvious when you see and hear the kids who have been taught respect at home. It usually shows up in the child. I heard of a child when told that his dad may need to be told of his behavior on the bus, he retorted he doesn’t care and he will not do anything to me. That answer made me very sad to think that probably was true. There are parents who truly do not care what happens to their kids.

There have been some major additions on the bus that was not there when I went to school. It is great that there are mirrors on the bus now and cameras to catch the kids who act up. That protects the bus drivers, the monitors and even the students. In a case of bullying, it would be an easy way of proof.

We, as adults, need to enforce kids to be mannerly to us and others so that if those little kindergarten children have to ride the school bus all 12 years, their memory will be that of a good experience.

To ride a school bus is still a privilege!

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.