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This is going to be a "he said, she said" story. Unless we put video cameras on EVERY bus we'll never know the truth. (Unless some savvy student really did catch this all on their phone camera.) There was a lot of discussion years ago about cameras on buses but in typical guilford county style, we're still only talking about it...

Also, had this been a white bus driver and a black child, all hell would have broken loose by now. Right Deena? But since it's the other way around, no comment from our Board members. Again, typical of our lacksidaisical system.

from what I have heard- the child called the bus driver a racial term that starts with an "n"- before the physical stuff began

We've asked the bus driver for her account of what happened and she has refused comment. We read her the father's account of the situation as well. Still nothing.

As I've read, both children, had scrape and bruise marks on them, and the boy had a noticeable bump on his head from being pushed into a window. I don't care if they called the driver a word from "A to Z" you don't put your hands on a child, you are an adult and have other means of recourse. Beau

Whatever happened, it all points to this fact: there is only ONE adult on each of the county's buses. That's a scary fact. I realize how poor we are and blah, blah, blah but for some buses, we need "sitters". Maybe parents could take turns riding on the bus. I imagine a few less racial slurs if we had some parents or grandparents on board. When's the last time a school board member took a bus ride? I think Mo needs to take a ride too.

Parents out there reading this... has your child experienced a problem on a school bus that you've taken action on? How was the response from the school system? Was anything done? Do you feel your child is safe on the bus?

We are getting some interesting feedback on this piece and I'd love to hear from more of you.

Shoot me an e-mail at

Ryan Seals

You have asked?

News,Police,School?

it doesnt matter if the child is white or black...now i believe that the child then called her the "n" word...but she had no right to put her hands on him...which ever way you put it they're both in the wrong...

i have complained to numerous officials about this driver. nothing was ever done nor did anyone call me back to let me know if they investigated the situation. miss neal has screamed at my children berated my children and called him po white trash on 2 previous occassions before this . yes he did call her the n word after she called him po white trash it still does not give her the right to put her hands on my children in any form shes the adult she knew better she didnt know that another child was taping the whole thing she figured it whould be his word aginst hers and there wasnt anything done about the other times that she had done anything to him and yes they have it all on tape and 30 something students staements that say the same thing they should have put a camera in the bus when i complained the 1st time and this isnt some sort of he said she said this is coming from 1st hand knowledge its all public record take the time to look it up

i have complained to numerous officials about this driver. nothing was ever done nor did anyone call me back to let me know if they investigated the situation. miss neal has screamed at my children berated my children and called him po white trash on 2 previous occassions before this . yes he did call her the n word after she called him po white trash it still does not give her the right to put her hands on my children in any form shes the adult she knew better she didnt know that another child was taping the whole thing she figured it whould be his word aginst hers and there wasnt anything done about the other times that she had done anything to him and yes they have it all on tape and 30 something students staements that say the same thing they should have put a camera in the bus when i complained the 1st time and this isnt some sort of he said she said this is coming from 1st hand knowledge its all public record take the time to look it up

Mr. Bentley,

It seems that the 'punctuation' keys on your computer are not working.

'Spell-check' not working either?

Ellen,
Get a life. It was nice for Mr. Bentley to share his side of the story. It's the content of posts that matter, not the punctuation. Go away.

Ellen,
Get a life. It was nice for Mr. Bentley to share his side of the story. It's the content of posts that matter, not the punctuation. Go away.

If parents or students are having problems with anything at school, i.e., buses, etc. please take the problem up with teachers and then the principal or assistant principal at school. If you have you go through the "chain of command" as we called it in the Army, and can't get anywhere, I urge you to contact your school board member. With 120 schools, it is helpful to hear from the "customers" when things are going good or bad.

Paul,

It has been my experience that Principals take no responsibility for what is going on in the buses.

Even if the bus driver files a report , little is done.
This leads to the bus driver not bothering to report anything.

My son and his friend was assaulted when he was 12 by an 18 year old in the school parking lot while they were loading the high schoolers on the bus.

I had to take it to court because the school refused to take ownership and do anything about it. In court, the 18 year old admintted to it and had to do community service. If the bus driver and principal would have taken responsiblity, it may not have gone to court.

Riding the bus is not a right...it is a priviledge....

Once we start treating it as such...we will have a lot less problems. It is the parents legal responsibility to see that their chld is in school...not yours and not mine....

Many school systems around this country do not offer this service.....maybe some people need to be reminded of that.

I have had trouble with completely incompetant bus drivers also....I found out ...by accident...
that my son sat behind the bus driver and watched him "to keep him AWAKE!!"......
He would tap him on the back if he saw him nodding off.....
I
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Kudos....to the good bus drivers.....we have quite a few of them also!!

If you have one...remember them at Christmas!

After 20+ years of driving these kids on a bus and this bus driver has only beaten up one mouthy little brat?

Amazing that she's been able to restrain herself these many years.

Bubba, you sound like a prince among men. Please tell me that your latest career move keeps you far, far away from children.

Tax Payer:

Please, if you are not getting an appropriate response from the principal (and I understand that this is sometimes the case, as I have spoken with bus drivers who have the same complaints) please contact your board member (or call me).

I ran for the school board to solve long-standing problems. I realize that it is an uphill fight sometimes, but we have to do it.