ACOT Message Board

I just cannot believe our children are NOT safe on school buses! How can that be?????http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR0FRHd62GU

The bus driver should have been watching out for that child! 

Think about it - you put a little girl on a bus with a bunch of teen and preteen boys, at best they are going to get rowdy and language would be an issue.    

I hope they go for blood

Wow.....One of the things that really bothers me, in listening to that clip, is at the very end.....why do school districts need to be "motiviated" (financially) to protect children in their care?  The newscasters comment is, that in that state, because the school district isn't motivated to protect the children there is really no way for a parent to protect their child.  Why in the world would a state government system remove the rights to hold the school district accountable just because something happend on a bus (owned, operated & staffed) by the school district?  I'm sick. 

That's insane.

This is soooo wrong!  Good grief... Why wouldn't the bus driver have the only little girl up in the front of the bus instead of the back?  I think the driver holds more responsibility than anyone!   He is hired to transport safely.

itis bullship and I would be after their blood for sure!

Trish said I just cannot believe our children are NOT safe on school buses!Sadly, I can. 

I hopped on a school bus once when my kid was in school.

To think that little girl was being molested for almost a year and a half without the driver knowing?? Where the hell was his head? Up his.....? Everything about that driver ticked me off! And the transportation department guy? Quote: "If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it..." crap?? If I were able, I'd fly to Ohio right NOW and beat the living daylights outta both of them!

I would be giving that bus driving moron a knuckle sandwich if I were local.  What a load!

Laura, I don't consider myself to be a naive parent and I know there are things that go on during bus rides but now to know that they're not protected by any laws?  In my opinion, that's unforgivable.  There's no way I'm allowing my daughter to be transported by school bus from this moment on... I'll re-arrange my schedule, do whatever I have to so that I can drop her off and pick her up.

I live in Ohio and I am appauled at the law that we supposedly have here in this state, what an embarrassment!!!  My boys dont ride the bus right now, they take the daycare van and I do feel completely safe.  Since I have been off work for 6 weeks I could put them on the bus everyday but I drop them off every morning and pick them up in the afternoon.  I as a kid never felt unsafe of course there were bullies and jerks but never felt scared of boys on the bus.  I as a parent drive the boys to and from when I am not working just because I just dont like them being on there.  I know thats not always an option but while I can and they are still little I will provide transportation as long as I can. Now for the JERKS in the video they need some eye for an eye treatment if you ask me, JMO.   I cant believe the laws in my state dont protect our own children I hope that mother sues someone and for good reason.   That little girl is scarred for life and no one seems to care but her poor mother, sad sad, sad.  I am just sick to my stomach right now, someone needs to find those guys and beat the crap out of them! 

I didn't mean to imply that you (or anyone else) was naive.  I simply meant to imply that this type of thing doesn't surprise me.The people working in the school systems nowadays are not of the same character as they were even 25 years ago.  Adults were always looking out for kids.  Now, adults in these positions often turn a blind eye, because they don't want to lose their jobs or they fear retaliation.    The fact that this bus driver would even leave a young child (girl or boy) in the middle of all those older kids and not bring the child up to the front, just proves my point.  The bus driver doesn't give a rats donkey about the kids.  The driver cares about the paycheck.  Period. The whole thing makes me sick. 

I knew what you meant! Anyone else ready to go to Ohio with me??

Pick me up in Columbus before you head up 71N if your going,  I got my bat ready lol.Ps  I really am not violent I promise lol. 

Trust me Jennifer, I'm NOT a violent person either but this news story made my blood boil over!

Okay - you might not like what I say but here I go.If this were in a large school bus I would have to go with the law.  How is a driver suppose to pay attention to his driving and to 15 or more kids and be safe?  Hopefully a child would report a problem to either the bus driver, a parent, or a teacher.  If at that point nothing was done then I think the school district is at fault.In this particular case - I look at both parties as being at fault.  The driver should have used a bit of common sense and placed the only girl in a seat close to him.  However, as a parent sending their child off in the care of a stranger I would be sure to bring this point up to the driver.  And why did the mother not know of this activity herself if it had gone on for a year and a half?  As parents we have a responsibility to teach our children was is and is not appropriate - if a person touches you this way it is not okay!  Even a mentally challenged child, if taught this, can tell a mentor or parent that so-and-so touched me like this.  And they will if the parent takes time to talk to their child everyday and ask them what their day was like.

I'm sorry, but there is no way you can say that the child should have or even would have reported what was happening.  The best parent in the world can't prevent this from happening to their child, and the best cared-for child in the world will not necessarily report such a thing. There are so many variables involved with why a child would remain silent, I can't even begin, but it happens - every day.

Whoa.  I'm with Tania here.Yes, every child can be taught what is inappropriate behavior and taught to tell an adult as well.  However, just as easily as they can be taught, they can also be easily manipulated and threatened into not telling.  The most "tuned" in parents are often the very last to know.

I agree that a child could be molested at any time and by anybody and a parent cannot stop it.  And yes, a child could be manipulated and threatened so they may never tell another person about what is happening.  But there would be signs.  I believe that if a parent or a mentor is truly mindful of their children they would know something was not right.