This is a rule I don’t agree with and one that I have not enforced. My first students get on the bus at 6:45 A.M and ride for almost one hour before getting to school. Some of them come with breakfast items in hand that they did not get time to eat at home. One girl came last week with some Cheerios and milk in a zip lock bag. I have no idea how she consumed it.
For a year and a half at the end of each day I have swept out the bus, which usually includes a few wrappers off of food bars, drink cartons, a few crushed cookies and an occasional apple core or banana peel. I was OK with this until the other day when I found a fresh wade of gum on the floor in front of one of the seats. I don’t do gum.
The next morning I reviewed with my passengers the no food and drink rule #3. I reminded them that I had not been enforcing this rule and I really did not care to. I invited them to look on the floor at seat #24 and if the gum was not there it was probably on the bottom of one of their shoes. I displayed a medium sized clear zip lock bag and told them if the food related items that were found on the floor during the next week filled the zip lock bag then the no food and drink rule would go into force.
They were great. There is a wastebasket right by the driver’s seat where they can easily deposit their trash, leaving them no reason to throw it on the floor. By Wednesday I had two cheerios, two empty zip lock bags, and two gum wrappers in my zip lock bag. Even the gum at seat #24 was gone. On Thursday they had a relapse. My bag was half filled at clean up time.
Friday morning before we got to the school I hung my zip lock bag from the passenger mirror for all to see and reminded them that this was the last day and the bag was half full. Like the story of a tree falling in the forest with no one to hear it--did it really make any noise? I considered no trash on the floor meant no one ate or drank on the bus.
That night as I swept out the bus there were two clear lollipop wrappers on the floor. What a relief. Surely I did not want to have to follow the no food or drink on the bus rule myself.
Mr. B
Monday, September 7, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Dear Family & Friends
What a great summer we have had. More time in Pine than I have ever spent even though I can only take three days at a time before I start feeling guilty. We had a great trip to Portland at the beginning of the summer to take care of Jason and Jills children. I got to work in Colorado in a most beautiful setting. We had our Pine Errol & Elaine Bagley family reunion. Elaine and I were back from the two Idaho/ Utah reunions for less that a day before we left for California for three days at a time share resort and musical theater with our friends the Whitings.
We were musing the other day that we can hardly remember when we have had to pay for a hotel in resent years as we have friends and family everywhere we go.
I remember the line from Sound of Music often." Somewhere in my youth and childhood---I must have done something good". We think of the line often and with with gratefulness as we inventory our many blessing.
I am ready to get back to a routine. I got my good bus route back with one small school added within my pickup area. I still have a contract which means a months worth of paid holidays during the school year. I find myself almost embarrassed that I have driven out of my way this summer just to go by the bus yard and look at the big yellow buses. As we were driving though Idaho this summer I noted each school we passed and how many buses were parked by them. I sometimes wake up in the morning going though the bus safely check and then imagining the music of starting up a big diesel engine. I think I am still OK but you may want to keep our eyes on me. Be prepared for more "bus stories". I'm sure they will be coming.
Love, Errol
What a great summer we have had. More time in Pine than I have ever spent even though I can only take three days at a time before I start feeling guilty. We had a great trip to Portland at the beginning of the summer to take care of Jason and Jills children. I got to work in Colorado in a most beautiful setting. We had our Pine Errol & Elaine Bagley family reunion. Elaine and I were back from the two Idaho/ Utah reunions for less that a day before we left for California for three days at a time share resort and musical theater with our friends the Whitings.
We were musing the other day that we can hardly remember when we have had to pay for a hotel in resent years as we have friends and family everywhere we go.
I remember the line from Sound of Music often." Somewhere in my youth and childhood---I must have done something good". We think of the line often and with with gratefulness as we inventory our many blessing.
I am ready to get back to a routine. I got my good bus route back with one small school added within my pickup area. I still have a contract which means a months worth of paid holidays during the school year. I find myself almost embarrassed that I have driven out of my way this summer just to go by the bus yard and look at the big yellow buses. As we were driving though Idaho this summer I noted each school we passed and how many buses were parked by them. I sometimes wake up in the morning going though the bus safely check and then imagining the music of starting up a big diesel engine. I think I am still OK but you may want to keep our eyes on me. Be prepared for more "bus stories". I'm sure they will be coming.
Love, Errol
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
FW: The Tale of Two Fords
Within 24 hours of turning in a Ford Focus at the SLC airport I rented a Ford Fusion in Mesa for a trip to California. Hence a little critique. The Focus seated four adults comfortably. The trunk was surprisingly large for an economy car. It was a peppy performer around town. Freeway passing was adequate but did not exactly fill you with confidence. Engine noise at freeway speeds was almost nonexistent which was pleasant for a four cylinder. The trip computer lead me to believe I was getting 42/44 mpg SLC to Rexburg. A gas top off on the way back proved to be closer to 38/39 mpg. This was at 70/80 mph so I was pleasantly surprised at that.
The Fusion SEL was not only pleasing to look on it was sporty to drive. This was the first time I had driven a car with a six speed automatic. This tranny seemed to always be in the right place at the right time to keep you on top of your driving game. This Ford delivered 26/27 mpg at 70/80 mph which is good but not at all outstanding for this size of car. The gold standard for full size cars remains the Chevy Impala which has always gotten me [+] [-] 30 mpg. at fwy speeds.
Conclusion; The Focus exceeded my expectations for an economy car but the Fusion was actually fun to drive.
Well there you have it, All the information you didn't ask for but got anyway. EB
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
FW:
Having grown up in what I assumed were the most beautiful rocky mountains in the West last week I went to Colorado. I friend of mine talked me into helping him painting a 6000 s.f. lodge. at 10,200 ft elevation between Silverton and Ouray. At this elevation I had to catch my breath climbing between the basement and the main floor of the house. The Aspen groves were so thick that from a distance it looked like you could mow them with a lawn mower. Water was busting out of the mountains and cascading over the rocks at every turn. The road on the "Million Dollar Highway had no guard rail so the snow could be plowed over the edge to a dizzing drop below. Within a half of a mile of the lodge there were a half a dozen abandoned gold and siver mines. Water was reluctant to boil at this altitude for cooking. After the second day we ran out of ice for the coolers so we put the milk in the back of the toilet which was spring fed from above the house.
The electricity came from solar panels with a backup propane generator.
For a long time desert rat this was this was most soothing to the eyes and soul.
Errol
Friday, May 29, 2009
FW: last day warfare
From: eebagley@hotmail.com
To: eebagley@hotmail.com
Subject: last day warfare
Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 12:23:41 -0700
The Last Day of School
Last year as a new driver I was totally unaware and unprepared for what apparently had become a last day bus tradition. After the bus gets moving the students start taking paper out of their binders wading it up into paper balls and have a paper war. I was so confused and surprised at this hail of paper warfare that I just pretty much let it run its course. My first run of elementary students started the fight. As the second run of Junior High students got on they did not even have to manufacture paper balls. The bus was already full of them.
This year on the day before the last day I reminded the students of last years paper war and warned them to not even think about it this year. If, however something like that did happen that no one would be let off the bus at the first stop until they, not me, had cleaned it all up.
On the last day I arrived at the school for the final trip home with black garbage bags already taped on up on the inside of the bus like black funeral crape. It worked. After I delivered the elementary students the bus was even cleaner than normal. This was too easy.
Now for the junior high students-------- As I took my seat and looked into the passenger mirror I sensed that munitions were already being manufactured behind the high back green seats. Realizing that this was a war that I was going to lose I thought I might regain some control by at least taking charge of the battle.
On some level you have to respect young people who take it upon themselves to defy their elder authority in the name of fun. I had told them I didn't want it to happen and I had also explained the consequences if it did. They apparently were choosing the consequences.
Before I started away from the school I reminded them that no one was getting off the bus till it was all cleaned up. I directed them that there was to be no flying objects till we were out of sight of the school and away from any other buses. I didn't want any other driver calling in backup help for a besieged driver.
After we passed though the first stop light I gave the command to commence firing.---- It was marvelous.---- A hail of white—front to back—side to side as new munitions were being made and the previously used ones were being refired. This went on for about four miles. Even before I had pulled off the road for the first stop the students had begun their cleanup. They took to it with the same vigor as they had the paper war. In the mist of the clean up one girl said, "This was so worth it."
Well it was for me too. Mr. "B"
Friday, May 22, 2009
FW: tales of a bus driver
From: eebagley@hotmail.com
To: eebagley@hotmail.com
Subject: tales of a bus driver
Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 08:27:38 -0700
Taking My Students to Church
Some time ago one of my student passengers revealed to me that there was some foul language going on on the bus and he told me who was involved. Not being up to date on the inventive new ways to use the English language I ask him to tell me what kind of verbiage was involved. The poor boy had to repeat it to me three times before I got it though my head what it meant. Yep, that would constitute inappropriate use of words in mixed company on a bus of young people and this was coming from young people. I thanked him for telling me and duly noted the situation. Not knowing how I was going to properly deal with this I put it in my mind and hoped that it would just go away.
A few days later the same boy reported the same conduct from the same boys. I knew that now this would have to be addressed. I spent the next few days planning how I could best correct this problem. I concluded I would get the most mileage out of the situation by not singling out the individual boys as I might miss some but rather by addressing the whole busload. I now planned the time and the place for the" teaching moment".
As it happens my last pickup is on the road at the north parking lot of the LDS church at Val Vista and McClellan. On the day of the instructions I first notified dispatch on the radio that I would be off route for a" teaching moment" after my last pickup. After the pickup at the north parking lot I drove 200ft. to the south parking lot, pulled into the lot and up as close as I could to the front door of the church. I thought this setting lent itself to the instructions I was about to give. As the bus came to this unscheduled stop, the swoosh of the air park brake is heard, and the driver rises from his seat with the PA in hand, there was an uncharacteristic hush that came over my thirty five passengers.
As a former-LDS bishop in front of an LDS church with well over half of my students being LDS there was an instructional speech that I could have given on the subject. I did not give that one. There are ten rules posted at the front of the bus. Cooperate with the bus driver, Stay seated while the bus is moving, no profane language, no smoking on the bus etc. I briefly went over these rules and then pointed out to them that we would focus on the profane language one for a few moments. I told them that some were using language not appropriate for students of their caliber who had qualified to go to The Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies. I told them I knew who was doing it, they knew who was doing it, and the bus camera knew who was doing it and I did not want to hear about it again. After an appropriate and agonizing pause and not wanting this to be remembered as a totally negative moment I added, " I do thank all of you for not smoking on the bus."
Off went the air brake. We circled the parking lot and were off to school. So far I have not heard any more about this inappropriate language. I might add. My students love me. No really, they do.
--Mr. "B"
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Field Trips from Different Worlds
Last week I had two field trips from elementary schools. The first one was from the South side of Mesa sometimes referred to as the miserable mile. This is an area of low-income families dominated by Hispanics. As these beautiful brown first graders came to board the bus I observed them laughing, holding hands with each other, and clutching their water bottles. I wondered if in all the world God has any more beautiful children than these. I know where they live and I know that perhaps most of their parents are illegal. In their innocent childhood they did not seem to be aware that they lived on the wrong side of town. They were just happy to be going on a field trip in a bus. As I gained speed down the on ramp and merged onto the freeway there was an audible excitement as if they had just begun a trip to Disneyland. We were going just four miles to Mesa Community College for a water safety day.
My second field trip was from one of the best neighborhoods in town. There is a gated community just across the street from the school. As you might guess these kindergarten children were all white. They too held hands and clutched their water bottles. They too were so cute that I wanted to take a couple of them home with me. {This I’m told would be illegal.} One of the parents arrived fashionably late in her black Escalade to deliver her student. As I got up to the speed limit on the freeway I addressed them on the PA and asked them if they would like to go really fast on this bus. They answered excitedly in the affirmative. I replied” Sorry this is as fast as I can go”. Their trip was to the Phoenix Botanical Garden. As we got back to the school I had to dodge a 50 thousand dollar Hummer that one of the parents had boldly parked in the bus loading zone and left unattended. As these privileged children got off the bus most of them, I’m sure prompted by the teachers, came by and thanked Mr. Bus Driver for the ride.
This was a study in contrast of two of the most diverse neighborhood schools in Mesa. No one can know what these children will be doing in twenty-five years from now. I am reminded of a saying I once heard. Two things are needed in this world; For poor men to know how rich men work and for rich men to know how poor men live.
Random thoughts by Errol Bagley Seniority #447
My second field trip was from one of the best neighborhoods in town. There is a gated community just across the street from the school. As you might guess these kindergarten children were all white. They too held hands and clutched their water bottles. They too were so cute that I wanted to take a couple of them home with me. {This I’m told would be illegal.} One of the parents arrived fashionably late in her black Escalade to deliver her student. As I got up to the speed limit on the freeway I addressed them on the PA and asked them if they would like to go really fast on this bus. They answered excitedly in the affirmative. I replied” Sorry this is as fast as I can go”. Their trip was to the Phoenix Botanical Garden. As we got back to the school I had to dodge a 50 thousand dollar Hummer that one of the parents had boldly parked in the bus loading zone and left unattended. As these privileged children got off the bus most of them, I’m sure prompted by the teachers, came by and thanked Mr. Bus Driver for the ride.
This was a study in contrast of two of the most diverse neighborhood schools in Mesa. No one can know what these children will be doing in twenty-five years from now. I am reminded of a saying I once heard. Two things are needed in this world; For poor men to know how rich men work and for rich men to know how poor men live.
Random thoughts by Errol Bagley Seniority #447
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