Students have always complained about strict discipline on school buses, but such measures are necessary to insure a safe ride for everyone.
A school bus scuffle that resulted in injuries to a bus driver and a student this week appears to be an isolated incident.
Lawrence school district officials and the district's bus contractor should make sure there are no repeats.
The unfriendly atmosphere on the bus where the commotion broke out had been noted by both students and parents since the beginning of the school year. Unfortunately, this bus route probably is not the only one where such problems exist. Perhaps Tuesday's incident will be the wake-up call officials need.
There may not be a foolproof way to prevent disputes or fights on a school bus, but there are a couple of common sense principles that can be applied. First, buses shouldn't be allowed to become overcrowded. Overcrowding was cited as a factor in Tuesday's incident, and has been a problem on other buses this year. Cramming too many students onto a bus, especially at the end of what may have been a tiring or frustrating school day, is an invitation for trouble. If the buses being used are not large enough to comfortably accommodate the students who are riding them, then larger models should be provided.
Another obvious step is to institute a zero-tolerance policy for horseplay, fighting or causing disruptions on school buses. Bus drivers, of course, are the first line of enforcement for such a policy and may be able to do an adequate job if the number of students on the buses is kept to a reasonable level. Students may complain about strict discipline on the bus, but keeping students in their seats and relatively quiet is an important safety issue.
Bus company and school officials should support drivers by backing up their disciplinary measures and removing habitual troublemakers from the buses. As was done after Tuesday's incident, having a second adult ride the bus to maintain order and reduce distraction to the drivers is a reasonable course when problems arise.
Busing children to schools that are beyond walking distance is a convenience for some families and a necessity for others. Either way, students shouldn't be afraid when they get on a school bus, and parents shouldn't have to wonder whether their children will be safe from fighting or harassment as they travel to and from school.
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