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Misha Lazzara's avatar

“But the car line is not cool. It is oppressive, boring, work-interrupting, bad for the Earth, bad for working parents, and bad for kids.”

Couldn't agree more! I was having (unrealistic) thoughts of homeschooling again, mostly because of commute and carpool. It FEELS so bad to spend two hours a day doing this. Sorry you list your bus this year 😵‍💫

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Anne Robinette's avatar

While reading this post, I seemed to only be able to think about one thing, the haves and have nots. School buses will still run as long as we have children of poverty who would not be able to get school without provided transportation. I live within a mile of a high school, middle school, and elementary school. When I drive by during dismissal times, I am always struck by two things! Some buses are packed to capacity with mostly children of color, and others are almost empty band the few children onboard are usually white. This says so much about our society, far too much for me to get into right now. My children road the school bus to school during elementary, but were picked up by me after because they went to an after school program which was largely made up of white children whose working parents could afford after school program tuition. Most students of color rode the bus home to empty houses since parents were working, but did not make enough to cover the after school program tuition. In middle school my children rode the bus to and from school. In high school, they carpooled with older friends until, senior year at which time they drove their friends home in the car we purchased for them. The carpool line at the high school enrages me when I pass it. As you pointed out, some parents start waiting for dismissal 45 minutes before it begins. This line spills out onto the road which is a no parking zone. Parents sit in their idling cars blocking the right lane for as long as it takes to pick up their underclassmen children. No one gets a ticket and no attempt is ever made to prevent parents from stopping there. I am sorry to be so negative but having taught public school for 30 years, it's what I notice about yellow school buses. My love to all and no chastisement intended because my children clearly were children of white privilege. My love to all.

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