Riding with Respect: Preventing Bullying on School Buses

School buses are America’s largest mass transit system. According to the American School Bus Council more than 25 million students ride school buses daily. Given such numbers, bus drivers play a vital role in student safety. Along with safe transport, maintaining bully-free bus environments is essential to protecting student safety.

Unfortunately, instances of bullying can occur on school buses, impacting the well-being of students and the overall safety of the ride. In this blog, we will explore the critical aspects of preventing bullying on school buses, including school bus driver training on bullying prevention, policies and procedures for handling bullying on buses, and supporting students affected by bus bullying.

Bus Drivers’ Impact on Public Opinion

Bus drivers are one of the district’s most visible employees and their actions influence the public’s opinion of the school district. Operating a school bus while managing student behavior is challenging and stressful. Despite the challenge, bus drivers must remain kind, courteous, and address student behavioral issues in a calm and neutral manner without emotion or anger.

With modern technology, most of a driver’s interactions with students are likely to be recorded and can be shared on social media. Inappropriate comments or actions will have a negative impact on public relations. Based on their public role and challenges of the job, it is a disservice to not provide bus drivers the information, skills, tools, and support they need to effectively manage disciplinary issues.

The Prevalence of Student Bullying on School Buses

Student bullying continues at high levels. RTI International, in partnership with the National Association for Pupil Transportation surveyed 2,595 public school transportation officials and superintendents to assess the prevalence of misconduct on school busses. 25% of the respondents indicated that bullying is a common occurrence on school buses.

Student victimization on school buses is a critical issue for student safety. The school bus is fertile ground for bullying. A student who is bullied while riding a bus has no way to leave the situation. Because students ride the bus based on location, bullies can target the same individual(s) every day.

Bus drivers are critical allies in school’s bullying prevention efforts. There are many ways that school administrators can assist and support bus drivers in creating and maintaining bully-free bus environments.

Five Ways Admins Can Help Prevent Bullying on Buses

1. School Bus Driver Training On Bullying Prevention

While having different professional responsibilities than in-school staff, bus drivers are equally responsible for the health and welfare of students. Though the bus is an extension of school property, bus drivers often do not receive the same training opportunities as in-school staff on school and district policies, programs, and initiatives.

Most schools have adopted bullying prevention programs and put into place systems of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Bus drivers should be included in staff training given to support these initiatives. Specifically, bus drivers (and bus monitors) should receive ongoing professional development on how to prevent, identify, and respond to bullying. This includes teaching them how to recognize the signs of bullying, intervene appropriately, and report incidents to school administrators.

2. Create Safe and Supportive Bus Climates

Positive bus climates contribute to a positive school experience for students. When students experience a positive and supportive bus climate, they are less likely to be involved in bullying and other inappropriate behaviors.

The following are important parts of safe and supportive bus climates:

Positive Behavioral Expectations

Establishing a respectful and positive environment on the bus means letting the students know the rules and expectations for safe and appropriate bus behavior and then rewarding students for following them. All students should understand a set of specific, easy-to-follow expectations for appropriate behavior on school buses as well as safe procedures for entering, exiting, and riding the bus.

The rules should be written in positive terms to set the expectation for what students are supposed to do. They should be limited in number and easy to understand for all ages. School administrators can work with transportation officials and bus drivers to ensure the rules are aligned with district policies and initiatives, including a school’s bullying prevention program and PBIS initiatives.

It is important that bus drivers have time at the beginning of each school year to teach the rules and procedures to students. Administrators can coordinate with the transportation department how to allot time for drivers to teach students positive behavioral expectations and to practice bus procedures that require order and cooperation (e.g., loading and unloading). The expectations for appropriate bus behavior can also be reinforced at school.

Positive Recognition

Positive recognition of appropriate behavior is the most effective tool for improving student behavior. As part of their PBIS program, many schools establish building-wide systems of recognition and rewards to recognize appropriate behavior. Administrators should include bus drivers in these systems and provide them with the same materials given to in-school staff used to reinforce positive behaviors. For example, many schools give students positive behavior “tickets” that can be traded in for a tangible reward or to enter in a schoolwide raffle. Bus drivers should receive the same materials to reinforce positive behavior as part of the school’s system of rewards.

Positive Relationships

Positive personal relationships between drivers and students are critical to effective student management. Drivers themselves can act as barriers to well-functioning school bus environments if they have poor relationships with students or fail to establish positive behavioral expectations.

Bus drivers are in the unique position of being the first and last school employees students have contact with each day. It is important to know students’ names and use them as much as possible. Knowing and using a student’s name is a foundation for building positive relationships. Bus drivers can ensure a student’s day begins and ends with a smile. Through their interactions with students, drivers can also notice student’s moods which might tip them off when there is a problem on the bus that was not reported or directly observed.

To encourage positive relationships between bus drivers and students, administrators can involve bus drivers in school activities and events, and encourage them to interact with students away from the bus.

3. Provide Avenues for Reports and Documentation

Most state laws and district policies require documentation and reporting of bullying incidents. It is the responsibility of school administrators to share those procedures with transportation personnel. Bus drivers should receive guidance on how to fill out a report. Important points to communicate are:

• Report what is known of the situation as completely and accurately as possible.
• A clear and comprehensive report is critical to understanding a bullying situation. Bullying incidents that are not reported cannot be addressed and monitored by the school.
• Reports should contain only the facts. Avoid opinions, editorial comments, or unfavorable statements about students. Focus on specific information such as:
  • Patterns of behavior
  • Specific, observable behaviors
  • Problems within or between groups of students

Many schools use electronic reporting systems which allow the real-time reporting of behavioral issues. Bus drivers spend most of their workday away from computers. Delays in reporting could allow a bullying situation to continue unaddressed at school. Because of the need to immediately intervene in bullying, bus drivers may need alternate methods to report bullying situations to school personnel until they are able to complete an online report.

School administrators should communicate back to bus drivers information about their investigation into bullying situations and the actions that will be taken in response. This may involve meeting with the students involved, implementing disciplinary actions, providing counseling, or changing seating arrangements or bus routes. Further, school administration and transportation departments should work together with the parents of the students involved to address bullying incidents.

4. Offer Administrative Support

Support from school administrators can help bus drivers build positive and respectful relationships with students. Some important ways to show support and build productive working relationships are:

• Provide training and resources for bus drivers to manage student behavior and create a safe and respectful bus climate.
• Ensure that bus drivers remain up-to-date on a school’s rules, regulations, and policies for dealing with bullying and other important issues. Information shared with in-school staff members should also be shared with bus drivers.
• Communicate with bus drivers regularly to address their concerns and needs. Strong communication between schools and transportation departments sends the message that transportation is a valued part of the school.
• Support bus drivers in enforcing school bus rules and discipline policies.
• Foster a supportive and collaborative relationship with bus drivers, and recognize their work and contribution to the school community.

By supporting bus drivers in these ways, school administrators can help drivers establish trust, rapport, and mutual respect with students and helps advance schools bullying prevention efforts.

5. Create Policies and Procedures for Handling Bullying on Buses

To prevent and address bullying on school buses, school districts must have clear and comprehensive policies and procedures in place. Key components of these policies and procedures include:

• Definition of Bullying: Policies should provide a precise definition of bullying to ensure consistency in identifying and addressing such behavior.
• Reporting Mechanisms: In addition to drivers and staff having reporting and documentation methods, students should be aware of how to report bullying incidents. Schools can use anonymous reporting systems to encourage reporting.
• Investigation Process: Procedures for investigating reported incidents should be outlined, including designated personnel responsible for conducting investigations.
• Disciplinary Actions: Clear consequences for individuals engaged in bullying should be established. This may include educational programs on respectful behavior and progressive disciplinary actions.
• Support for Victims and Perpetrators: Procedures should detail the support provided to both victims and perpetrators. This support may involve counseling, conflict resolution, and education on the effects of bullying.

Supporting Students Affected by Bus Bullying

It is important to provide support systems for students who have been affected by bus bullying. School districts must proactively address the emotional and psychological well-being of these students. Key components of supporting students affected by bus bullying include:

1. Ensure Them It’s Not Their Fault: Reiterate to the bullied student that they are not to blame for the bullying they’ve experienced. Affirm their worth and reinforce that bullying is never acceptable behavior. This can help rebuild the student’s self-esteem and confidence.

2. Counseling Services: Make counseling services readily available for students who have experienced bus bullying. These services should offer a safe space for students to express their feelings, fears, and anxieties related to the bullying incident. Counselors can provide coping strategies and emotional support to help students heal.

3. Communication with Parents or Guardians: Maintain open and honest communication with the parents or guardians of the bullied student. Keeping them informed about the incident, the steps taken to address it, and the support provided can help build trust and ensure a collaborative effort to tackle the issue.

4. Finding a Solution to Protect the Bullied Child: Work closely with the school, bus driver, and the family to find practical solutions that protect the bullied child. This may include adjusting bus seating arrangements, implementing a buddy system, changing bus routes, or as a last resort finding alternative transportation. Whatever the solution, stopbullying.gov shares that ” the child who is bullied should not be forced to change.”

5. Follow-Up: Regular follow-up is essential to monitor the well-being of the bullied student. Continued counseling, periodic check-ins, and feedback from teachers and bus drivers can help track the student’s progress and address any ongoing concerns.

By offering comprehensive support for students affected by bus bullying, schools can foster resilience, provide a safety net for emotional recovery, and communicate a strong message that every student’s well-being is of utmost importance.

 

Preventing bullying on school buses is a collective effort that involves the entire school community, from bus drivers and school administrators to students and their families. By following our tips for preventing bullying on buses and offering robust support systems for students affected by bus bullying, school districts can create a safer and more respectful environment for all students. Riding with respect is not just a slogan; it’s a commitment to ensuring every student’s journey to and from school is one that is free from fear and full of respect.