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For the Search that Bus poetry contest by Miranda Hawley

What to Submit? The sad news is that every year there are children left alone on a bus.  This should not even be a thing ever, or anywhere, but here we are.  In the state of Indiana between the years of 2009 and 2018 a total of 221 students have been left on the bus unattended.  2018 was the worst year with 32 times a child in Indiana has been left alone on a bus.  

Now that you have the bad news my contest will address this sad fact.  Imagine you are a dispatcher and you are instucting your bus drivers, bus monitors and support staff to make sure they do a complete job SEARCHING their bus for any student so they don't make the big mistake of leaving a child unattended on their bus.  After all sometimes children crawl under the seats or perhaps lay down on the floor of the bus.

 

 

 

You've got an important task, so understand, it's totally mandatory and a firm demand. Before leaving check every nook, each hidden space. Beneath seats for little feet or a smiling face. You've been instructed now, so take utmost care, parents depend on us, so always be aware.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 4/14/2024 12:02:00 PM
Well, what do you know!! This is my profession! My husband drives the prek bus and I am the bus monitor. 20 years and not one child left behind!woohoo! We are trained, and reTrained, year after year to activity supervise. We count consistently, have redundant systems in place to make sure that never happens. Cool poem... may I share this at the next staff meeting? I will of course give you credit.
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Silent One
Date: 4/14/2024 12:43:00 PM
Thank you..sure feel free. It was for a contest. Too be honest I was shocked this was so common in the US..
Date: 4/10/2024 1:47:00 AM
A short poem, not usual for you, but still so deep to understand. To lose offspring is indeed carelessness.
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Date: 4/8/2024 6:55:00 PM
A very true and sad fact. A lot of things need to be duly attended to. I like the command. They need to effectively do their jobs. Check! Check! Check! Lots of children lose their families because of this carelessness. They get lost, never to be found again. I only can imagine the pain and misery they go through. Cheers Silent.
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Date: 4/8/2024 5:39:00 PM
I have heard about this happening especially with nursery school age children. Here in our state, there has been one death that I heard about where the staff left a child on a bus in very hot weather. Thanks for sharing this poem with good advice. Sara K
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Date: 4/7/2024 9:22:00 AM
Oh you wrote for this contest too ! Ah you can nail any contest and leave a brilliant impression so poetic, i smiled as i read “ Beneath seats for little feet or a smiling face. You've been instructed now, so take utmost care,” thats cute! Smiling face such innocence youv captured in just one line. Very well delivered for the prompt i believe! Your rhymes are brilliant too. Excellent couplet well articulated! Pleasure reading different types of poems written by you. Best wishes for the contest
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Date: 4/7/2024 6:03:00 AM
tragic when I think about children being left on a bus...happens here in our town with some regularity. Alarming. Your poem addresses that reality. Great contest entry. Have a splendid day, Sara
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