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ERIC Number: EJ772759
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1066-2847
EISSN: N/A
Bully on the Bus
Harrison, Mary M.
Teaching Tolerance, n28 p38-43 Fall 2005
Across the U.S., more than 24 million students begin and end their school days on buses. In most cases, the driver is the only adult on board. To transport students safely, the driver must watch the road, not the riders, during most of the trip. Although bus drivers have mirrors and usually see fights, they can easily miss pushing, shoving, and grabbing of others' belongings. They can also miss or overlook verbal bullying that can make the trip a nightmare for targeted students. Some districts hire adult monitors for buses, but most say they cannot afford monitors for every bus. Some also have installed video cameras, often with sound, hoping to deter would-be bullies and help administrators determine, after the fact, who did what on the bus. A less common idea, proposed by parent groups and others, is to put parent volunteers aboard school buses; few districts, however, use this option. While many school districts today do extend their student-conduct policies to include buses, director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence at the University of Southern Maine, Stephen Wessler, said more needs to be done. Districts need to train bus drivers to intervene and stop harassment. Districts also need to give drivers appropriate procedures for reporting problems and let them know how complaints they have filed have been resolved. An anti-bullying policy implemented at Hermitage School District to make all students aware of bullying and give hope to victims--whether at school or on buses--is discussed.
Southern Poverty Law Center. 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104. Tel: 334-956-8200; Fax: 334-956-8484; Web site: http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/index.jsp
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Maine
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A