On January 19, 2007 I wrote a post about being notified that school crossing guards would be discontinued in our school district. Instead of guards, the district provided bus transportation to all of the students who live close enough to walk to school.
Tuesday, WCAV CBS 19 came out to interview me for a follow-up story that is planned to air Friday, August 17. Tune in!
When the situation first came to light, I was outraged at the waste of money and energy as well as the extra gasoline and pollution caused by the buses dispatched to pick up children who live just houses away from the elementary and middle schools.
My daughter, a member of the generation that is hyper-aware of our impact on the environment, continued to walk to school the remaining four months of school, in protest of the crossing guard situation. Admittedly, on really rainy days she rode the bus a time or two despite our proximity to her school; she had never ridden a school bus before and the novelty of it was attractive. She quickly got over it.
School begins again August 22, next Wednesday. Will there be crossing guards? NO. Not until some time in September. I learned from WCAV that even though the district has had seven months to put the guards through a two-day training program, this has not been completed, or even, at this writing, scheduled.
Yesterday, we were delivered the bus schedule for our student, the walker. She immediately said, “I’m not riding the bus!”
Bring back the crossing guards, Albemarle. It’s better for everyone.
All the relevant posts:
Crossing Guards Illegal in Albemarle County
No More Crossing Guards in Albemarle County
Crossing Guard Update
The Crossing Guard Sitch: An Update
I still think you should throw on some orange (I have a sweater you can borrow…), grab a stop sign and guard the crossing yourself. No one spurs action better than a goaded woman.
That’s just so ridiculous. I’m waiting for the city to come up with something equally idiotic.
Amen, sister! Shall we commision a clipping service?
We shall overcome…..We shall overcome….
If that doesn’t work, SERENITY NOW!!!!!!!