What’s the reason for the disrespect?

Almost every single person in this school has ridden a bus, and almost everyone has witnessed multiple disrespectful encounters between bus drivers and students. But why? Why be rude and mean? What’s the point? I came here today to tell you there is no point. Bus drivers are just doing their job. When they stop at train tracks, it’s their job. When they tell you not to play your music aloud, it’s their job. When they ask you to sit down, it’s their job. When I witness people who are yelling or arguing with the bus driver, I mentally and physically cringe. It is not hard at all to sit down, put your earbuds in and be quiet.

I was able to interview one of our bus drivers, Tina. We talked to her about her thoughts on kids, “If you just put it up there at the beginning of the year you know what you expect, respect, for me, for your peers, watch your profanity. My bus is pretty calm, no trash on the floor, nothing's messed up.”

Bus drivers don’t tell you not to talk or to be playful with your friends, they encourage you to talk to people, they would just rather not have to yell at you to stop screaming, cussing, moving from seat to seat, or being loud and obnoxious. A bus drive is supposed to be a nice easy quick ride from point A to point B then point C and however many more stops. Bus drivers are not out to get you. They don’t want to make the drive difficult, they just want to get everyone to school.

When you are loud and obnoxious and unnecessary and plain out disrespectful, stop, think, and ask yourself, “Is this really necessary? Do I really have to scream like this at the bus driver? Do I really want to make the driver's day that much more unbearable?” The answer to all those questions should be “No” . You should then sit down and just talk at an appropriate level with your friends. Just think about how being nice and respectful can make everyone’s day better. Just be respectful.