Just Too Long on the Bus
November 24, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Schoolbus, new york
I mean, at least two hours each way, to school and then back home? That’s how long 5-year-old Brandon Montanez, who’s autistic, rides the bus to get from his home in Bensonhurst to Learning Springs School in Manhattan, according to yesterday’s WCBStv. Brandon’t bus ride used to be 90 minutes long each way—-already too long—-New York’s Office of Pupil Transportation changed his route (and his driver and bus matron) on short notice and, more than understandably, it hasn’t been easy for Brandon:
“It’s been a nightmare,” says Michelle Montanez, Brandon’s mother. “He was jumping on his seat, he was throwing off his seat belt, he told them that he wanted to scream and he wanted to do it. He started banging his head against the side of the bus and he’s been doing it every day since he’s been on this route. It’s too much for him, it’s too long.”
2 hours each ways is a long bus ride for any of us and not the way for any student to start a long day of learning.
Jeff Stimpson
Jill Cornfield
Two hours each way daily commute would be considered extremely long (and tedious) for an adult in these parts. For a child, and esp. a young child, I could see it as nigh unbearable.
We were offered a 45 each way bus ride for Eleanor when she was 5, and even that was very (too) long.
sorry,
45 minute each way bus ride
I cannot imagine putting my daughter on a bus and sending her off for that long of a ride. What does the bus driver to keep everyone happy the whole way? What do the kids do all this time?
And in New York traffic, during commute hour——-
Hi Kristina and Charlie! Saw Danielle that other day…thought of you guys! Hope all is well. I would love to hear from you guys. Tell Charlie I said hi
I thought there were laws in place that limited a bus ride to 30 minutes?? Maybe that is a state thing. Poor kid
I think there is a law in place but it is for no longer than 60 minutes (each way) unless there is parent approval. Sometimes these bus companies will tell the partent that there is no choice and it is out of there hands, but if parents know that it shouldn’t take this long (even 90 minutes) then they should hold there ground and refuse–a good advocate or lawyer could help here is the parents have a problem.
Why put up with this horror and crap!!!
There are laws against this in my state (Illinois). If the school is over 60 minutes away the school has to either provide an appropriate education closer. The parent can wave that right though.
I spent a short period of time going to a therapeutic day school as a teen that involved a very long commute (I would get on the bus shortly after 7 a.m., and off the bus shortly before 9 a.m.). I eventually just started refusing to go to school after having a desk thrown at me… but that was waaay too long of a commute even if the educational services had been appropriate.
It goes against least restrictive environment to have him on the bus that long- IMHO the school district needs to pay up and get a door to door taxi service for the child. They should have a good chance at due process.