I'm not sure exactly what a parent could do to prevent this but I thought I would throw this out there as food for thought. Personally, I pick my kids up but I know that isn't an option for everyone.

We had thunder storms on Monday afternoon with lightening, 45-60 mph winds and small hail being common. Some areas had higher winds and there were some areas that had golf ball size hail. This is the same storm I had mentioned in another thread that had some local flash flooding as well. IIRC the area where I live got 6-8" of rain in an hour or two. I was supprised that they were putting kids onto or letting kids off the buses during the storm. A five year old got off at the wrong bus stop and was missing for about an hour during the storm. I was picking up my kids during the beginning of the storm and we experienced 50+ mph winds and pea to dime sized hail.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=11180266

I have a friend who started driving school bus last fall. They are given a list of the youngest students because they're supposed to take certain precautions. Unfortunately, her list of students was about 3 yrs old, so she just based her guesses on appearance.

If anyone who has a kid in the public school system actually thinks the school system gives a rat's patootie about their kids, they need to pull their heads out of that warm dark place and get a reality check. Our school systems are just babysitters, and not very good ones, either.

Sue, Public School Enemy #1

I'm sorry that your so bitter Sue but that's a very broad generalization. This was an bad error made by one person. This in no way reflects the entire public school system.

My three girls range in age from 10 to 3. The oldest two are in the public school system here in VT and I have never seen a more caring school. Our Principal (who is new this year) knows every students first and last name. There is an extreme sense of community in my school district. Lots of very involved parents and we all look out for each other. Yet one more reason that Burlington Vt was just listed as the best place to raise a child by Childrens Health Magazine.

I think location and district size play a pretty big role here. One of the reasons my wife and I left the Pacific NW was because we wanted kids and did not like any of the choices within reasonable driving time ( 1 hr) of where I worked. So off to a new job in Midwest. I have some friends from the same general area in the NW who loved their community and school but it was a lot smaller district and further from the urban areas.

In the spirit of full disclosure I will also fess up to having a lot of teachers in my immediate family and they all cared for the kids and went out there way to be there when needed. Of course they have all complained about at least one co-worker who just kind of drifted through the classroom. Ultimately parents are responsible for their kids but the good teachers can really make a difference. Like anything else, put the time in to learn the territory and make good decisions for you and yours.

- Eric

From the article :

"The simple answer -- there's no law requiring bus drivers to know every child's individual stop. School districts obligate drivers to obey all traffic laws and keep kids safe. But Caleb's mom says there should be extra precautions in severe weather."

I think the bus driver dropped the ball here. Whether or not it was the correct stop, or that the driver isn't obligated to know every child's stop is immaterial in this situation. I can understand how it could happen with a new driver, but to let any child out in a wild thunderstorm when they have the obligation to "keep kids safe" sounds like a bus driver not doing their job to me.

I have a 9 year old grandson that I had to pick up at his school bus stop once when his Mom and Dad both had to work. Before the driver would let him off the bus, I had to identify who I was and my grandson then had to tell the driver who I was. This was in good weather with a 9 year old. Thunderstorms, hail, 50+ MPH winds ..... 5 years old ..... sorry ... my opinion is the driver blew it.

LW

Maybe it is just me, but the idea of a 5 year old being picked up or dropped off by themselves just seems wrong.
I mean this whether it is a school bus, a taxi or any other public transportation. I don't think it matters what the weather is either.

+ about 1000 on that and it's not just you.

I seem to recall that the article mentioned his mother waiting at the correct stop. Just another reason I think the bus driver messed up big time.

LW

In normal weather, taking charge of all those kids is a heck of a lot of responsibility to heap on a bus driver who probably is paid a pittance.

Good to hear the child is fine.

I am wearying of all the harsh Monday morning quarterbacking and sniping the Internet facilitates. Mindful that I've engaged in it and am hardly above it.

It's a tough world to make a mistake in these days and once Google archives your folly you're doomed to live with it, and the sniping, forever.

Good Morning Dagny,

I guess I'm at a bit of a loss here. If I'm in the wrong then I sincerely apologize. I did not feel that what I said was being "harsh, Monday morning quarterbacking or sniping". If this were some sort of hypothetical situation rather than an actual happening, my response would not have been any different. It's just truly how I feel.

I agree with you that bus drivers are probably paid a pittance for a lot of responsibility. The key word is responsibility. As the article stated, the bus driver has the responsibility to keep the kids safe. I don't really see letting a child off alone in a wild thunderstorm any differently than the same bus driver driving the kids home in a reckless manner.

Again, if I offended you then I apologize.

Best Regards,
LW

Like I said; I threw this out there as food for thought. I couldn't think of any "fixes" for this issue that don't ultimately put the responsibility of accounting for each student back on the driver. Well, other than not putting your kids on the bus.

The only thing I had thought of was putting a large obvious number on your childs book bag/backpack that matches the bus stop number. In that way it would be much easier for a driver to recognize that a young child was not getting off at the correct stop.

Anyone have any brighter ideas?