Posted on 12/02/2004 3:56:16 PM PST by reportgirl73
GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (AP) - An elementary school bus driver was fired after sharing a statistic she had read about embryonic stem cell research with students, then encouraging them to tell their parents about it.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
We don't know, they are going to call back after they read her e-mail..
OK, so a busload of elementary-aged children approached MrsMayor completely out of the blue and said, "Hey, MrsMayor, please tell us all about what Mel Gibson thinks about stem cell research! We've been waiting all week to ask you about it, because if there's one person in the world who can set us straight about Mel and stem-cell research, it's the substitute bus driver!"
Is that really what happened?
That would be expressing an opinion. For instance had the bus driver been telling the kids they would burn in hell if they had an abortion, that would be a problem to. But if the bus driver was asked about how safe abortions were, and the bus driver came back with a reasonable fact based answer then what's the beef?
A responsible bus driver would say that abortion was something the child should discuss with her family, and go back to driving the bus.
"I realize that not being an evangelical (or any other type of) Christian, I am very much in the minority here" What's the point in saying this? Do you think those of us who are evalgelical christians are not capable of seeing things objectivly, so you need to set yourself apart as being more reliable?
Not necessarily more reliable, but my perspective is certainly different than that of an evangelical, and yes, I think it's a valid point.
"That's what bus drivers are paid to do, no more and no less." Do you always do the absolute minimum of what your job title requires? Do you really think people are nothing more then their job title?
I do my job to the very limit of my abilities and I certainly go the extra mile or ten to satisfy my clients, but no, I don't waste time on things that have absolutely nothing to do with my job description, and might even jeopardize my job.
As a parent I would prefer a bus driver who took an real interest in the children, and if they had factual, educational answers which they discussed with children in a reasonable manner, I would be delighted.
See, our perspectives are definitely different here. I want a bus driver who is focused on driving the bus.
Perhaps you have a conflict of interest here ;-)
They aren't, but when you are telling this to elementary school children it is. Their biggest worry should be what toys they are going to play with, not politics. They don't know if what you are telling them is fact or fiction. You were hired to drive them back and forth to school safely.
Remember it's a fact that abortion is sadly legal. I wouldn't want anyone teaching that to elementary school children on a bus, or using the defense that it's a fact.
What a radical opinion you have!
Political issue? I thought it was a scientific issue. Heaven forbid anyone should say anything to students that might cause them to actually learn something.
I'm a school bus driver. She was out of line.
I'm a school bus driver and I would expect the same treatment if I brought something like that up to my student passengers and told them to mention it to their parents.
Totally out of line.
How about the School Bus Drivers that are Liberal, would it be okay for them to tell the kids on their route that that Bush a a bad and evil President and that the family should rent F/911?
Do Muslim School Bus Drivers try to convert the kids on their Bus to Islam?
Your wife didn't talk about sex, give out rosaries, or sing Christmas Carols. Amazing.
Good luck.
And why are you asking me these questions?
I headed the WNY chapter of the New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which is an arm of the NY Family Research Foundation -- an educational institution. The GI Transportation Dept. knew that when they persuaded me to work for them. It's just -- my nature.
~The Mayor's Wife~
I'm sorry but you were totally out of line even WITHOUT asking them to discuss it with their parents. The fact that you threw that in was appalling. IMHO
The children our your bus are a captive audience and not there for you to "dump" your "facts" on. They are there for you to drive safely to their destination, not for any other reason.
You're a troll.
I think that's the "dumbing down" part of our failing educational system...
You were hired to drive them back and forth to school safely.
I did just that. In fact, I was one of the safest drivers in the department. Sooooooo, I'm not allowed to provide scientific facts to students, why? O, because I was just a lowly bus driver? I'm sorry, I just still don't get it.
~The Mayor's Wife~
Do Muslim School Bus Drivers try to convert the kids on their Bus to Islam?
They're welcome to try it in our neighborhood, but I wouldn't be surprised if they got dragged off their bus and beat to a pulp.
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