The wheels on the bus go round and round

When I was a youngster, oh so many years ago, I took the bus to school and I remember those experiences very well. In fact, I remember them so well that it almost seems just like yesterday.

My school experience didn't start with the bus. In fact, when I began in primary, I walked to school every morning along with a few other kids from the neighbourhood and my older sister. Then, following morning classes, at noon we would walk back home for lunch, as we were not permitted to stay in the building.

At home, we'd scarf down a quick bite to eat, turn tail and make the trek back to school. Once again after classes were finished, our feet would carry us back home again. The next day, we'd do it all over again.

This routine happened in all kinds of weather because there was no bus service in our part of the county, not to our school at least.

I followed that same pattern for the first year of my school experience. After that, the old school was shuttered and we kids were bussed further away to a bigger school with larger classes and more opportunities.

I don't know, though. When I think of the experience, overall I would say it was a positive move, but in many ways I missed the little two-room school with the smaller, more intimate and closely-knit classes. However, the opportunity to ride the bus was very exciting for a little kid starting Grade 1.

I remember the first day of taking the bus was filled with lots of excitement and some apprehension. I had never ridden on a school bus before that first day of my Grade 1 year in September 1967 and I had no idea what to expect. The one good thing about taking the bus that year was that all the other kids from the neighbourhood and my sister were also making the trip with me, so there was some comfort in that fact.

However, once the door slammed shut and the wheels on the bus started to turn, any early angst was quickly eradicated. This was exciting for a six-year-old kid who had never driven on a bus before that day and within the first few minutes of the bus pulling away from the stop, any fear and apprehension that I had felt quickly eroded and was replaced with excitement and, yes, even awe.

It wasn't long before I came to appreciate the bus ride to school every morning and back home every afternoon, especially during inclement weather. I rode the bus from my Grade 1 year through to the end of Grade 8, after which I was required to walk because the distance from our home to the high school I attended was considered within walking range by those who make such determinations.

It really wasn't, though, and today, the children from the same neighbourhood where I grew up are bussed to all of their schools, as they should be. I remember walking to high school in some pretty cold and nasty weather. And it's not that I was lazy, but during those days, I recall thinking how great it would be to be able to take the bus.

When we were kids, we took the school bus for granted. As an adult who watched his own children take the bus everyday, I came to appreciate how important the school bus truly is.

I bring this up as an objective observer because today, while I watch from my dining room window as the youngsters line up every morning to wait for the bus and then to see them excitedly scamper on board the bus — some of them so tiny their little legs can barely reach up to the next step — I realize that we don't give the bus drivers enough credit.

Seriously, think of the onerous responsibility they have. We entrust them with the safety of our children and it is their job to transport that precious cargo to school in the morning and then to return them safely home in the afternoon. It's not a job to be taken lightly and I do believe bus drivers are among the unsung heroes who get very little recognition for the important work they do.

I recently came to that realization while watching the bus pick up the neighbourhood children and noticed how attentive the driver was as the youngsters climbed on board and took their seats. Watching those kids, I saw that they all knew exactly what they were doing and it was clear to me that the kids respected the driver and, in turn, the driver respected his/ her young passengers.

How wonderful is that, I thought.

When I see children behaving in such a respectful manner, it speaks volumes to me about how well the driver does the job. Anyone with children who ride the bus or even any of us who no longer have school-aged children, should tip our hats to bus drivers and say thank you for a job well done.

Almost by coincidence, later that same day, I found it ironic that someone made a post on Facebook about a driver who failed to stop for a school bus that morning even though the red lights were flashing and the stop arm was extended. This could have been a tragedy in the making and thankfully, the driver caught the idiot on video. The post further said that charges were forthcoming.

I say, good for the bus driver. I also say, throw the book at the other motor vehicle operator and impose the highest fines possible. Seriously, the fool could have killed a kid or badly injured someone. What in the heck could have been so important that the driver would speed past a stopped school bus picking up children?

There is no excuse for such behaviour but the incident further confirmed to me that bus drivers have an important job and some days I'm sure most of them think they deserve a medal for what they do.

By my way of thinking, they really do, and that's the view from here.