"No child left behind" policy review (3rd April 2012)

[ozbob]

"No child left behind" policy review (3rd April 2012)

--> http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2012/04/no-child-left-behind-policy-review-3rd-april-2012.html

"No child left behind" policy review (3rd April 2012)

03 April 2012 , 7:29 AM by Spencer Howson

The  "No child left behind" policy is one the key issues to be addressed at the Queensland Bus Industry Council's (QBIC) annual conference on the Gold Coast.

The Bus Industry Council will call for the new Transport minister to establish "a dedicated task force comprised of all key stake holders to evaluate and work through this problem"

David Tape the Executive Director of the Queensland Bus Industry Council joined the program.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Morcombes back call for bus stop task force

Morcombes back call for bus stop task force
Bridie Jabour
April 3, 2012 - 12:41PM

Denise Morcombe has backed calls by bus drivers to establish a taskforce to tackle the problem of children being left at bus stops, but would like it to also be used to report bus drivers who leave children behind.

The Queensland Bus Industry Council, the peak industry body representing bus drivers, is holding its national conference on the Gold Coast and today called on the State Government to establish a taskforce to deal with children being left at bus stops.

QBIC Executive Director David Tape argued it was too easy to just blame bus drivers for children left behind, saying it was ''a community issue''.

Denise Morcombe has backed calls by bus drivers to establish a taskforce to tackle the problem of children being left at bus stops, but would like it to also be used to report bus drivers who leave children behind.

The Queensland Bus Industry Council, the peak industry body representing bus drivers, is holding its national conference on the Gold Coast and today called on the State Government to establish a taskforce to deal with children being left at bus stops.

QBIC Executive Director David Tape argued it was too easy to just blame bus drivers for children left behind, saying it was ''a community issue''.

''The bus industry accepts its share of the responsibility and treats the issue very seriously, but parents and the community also share this challenge,'' he said.

''Parents are responsible for their children before the bus arrives and often they leave children waiting alone at remote stops well before a bus is due.''

He said drivers regularly reported children electing not to board buses or hiding behind stops while many children walked alone to and from bus stops.

''It is too simplistic to place the entire responsibility on the bus driver when parents, schools and the community at large all have a part to play,'' Mr Tape said.

A ''no child left behind'' policy was introduced in Queensland for bus drivers after the abduction of Sunshine Coast boy Daniel Morcombe in 2003 after a bus failed to pick him up from a bus stop. Daniel's remains were found last August, eight years after his abduction, and Brett Peter Cowan has been charged with his murder.

Daniel's mother, Mrs Morcombe, said the taskforce was a ''good idea'' but she would like it also to be used to report bus drivers who leave children at bus stops.

''We still get a few phone calls from parents whose children have been left at bus stops,'' she said.

''We have been saying ring your local newspaper or ring your local MP, but if they had a specific group they could go to, that would be great.''

Mrs Morcombe said most of the complaints she and her husband, Bruce, received were from parents on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane with the ''odd'' call from north Queensland.

She said she was not aware of issues of children being left at remote bus stops or walking long distances to the bus stops alone.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson has been contacted for comment.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/morcombes-back-call-for-bus-stop-task-force-20120403-1w9xy.html

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Bus stop task force ruled out

Bus stop task force ruled out
Bridie Jabour
April 3, 2012 - 5:31PM

Transport Minister Scott Emerson has rejected calls to establish a taskforce to tackle the problem of kids being left at bus stops, saying there is already a committee that should look at the issue.

The mother of slain Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe, Denise Morcombe, today backed calls by bus drivers to establish a task force of key stake holders to look at the problem.

But Mr Emerson said there was already a committee in place.

"This is an important policy and a correct policy, but obviously there needs to be work done to improve how it is applied," Mr Emerson said.

"I've spoken to the CEO of TransLink Neil Scales who is attending the QBIC conference and asked him to reiterate that the current bus safety committee made up of industry, government and driver representatives should look at ways this policy can be better implemented.

"I would like to see results, rather than see something so important referred to another committee or taskforce."

.....................

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/bus-stop-task-force-ruled-out-20120403-1w9xy.html

[Andrew]

I agree with the comments about it being a community issue.  I think bus drivers, while some do the wrong thing, are the easy scapegoats in this problem.  The problem is when is the carrier liable for a child waiting at a bus stop?  As David Tape pointed out, children are regularly left at stops alone at or to walk to or from stops.  When you boil it down, it would appear that some people expect the buses to take responsibility when they arrive at the stop which I think is unreasonable.  Your average bus stop is nothing like a train station that's seperated, generally well lit and fitted with security features such as cameras.  Busway Stations and Interchanges perhaps are comparable but not normal bus stops.  I think the community is trying to shift the responsibility off itself.  As tragic as the Danel Morcombe incident is, one has to look at whether the parents choices that day had a role to play.

[somebody]

I agree with the comments about it being a community issue.  I think bus drivers, while some do the wrong thing, are the easy scapegoats in this problem.  The problem is when is the carrier liable for a child waiting at a bus stop?  As David Tape pointed out, children are regularly left at stops alone at or to walk to or from stops.  When you boil it down, it would appear that some people expect the buses to take responsibility when they arrive at the stop which I think is unreasonable.  Your average bus stop is nothing like a train station that's seperated, generally well lit and fitted with security features such as cameras.  Busway Stations and Interchanges perhaps are comparable but not normal bus stops.  I think the community is trying to shift the responsibility off itself.  As tragic as the Danel Morcombe incident is, one has to look at whether the parents choices that day had a role to play.

+1

The paranoia and knee jerk reaction here is bizarre.

In the Port Arthur massacre there was some issue with a door which couldn't be opened and allow escape.  Or something like that.  Why not implement an inspection regime for every door in the state/country.

[Andrew]

It is simple, as a parent I have a responsibility for my children.
That means ensuring they get to the bus safely and ensuring they have the money for the fare.
Full stop.

I completely agree with you but the question then becomes how to enforce that responsibility.  What to do when a kid rocks up with parents who aren't so responsible (or a scheming kid who wants to spend the fare on lollies or tuckshop instead)?  You can't refuse them without the potential danger of something bad happening.

[Fares_Fair]

It is simple, as a parent I have a responsibility for my children.
That means ensuring they get to the bus safely and ensuring they have the money for the fare.
Full stop.

I completely agree with you but the question then becomes how to enforce that responsibility.  What to do when a kid rocks up with parents who aren't so responsible (or a scheming kid who wants to spend the fare on lollies or tuckshop instead)?  You can't refuse them without the potential danger of something bad happening.

Therein lies the problem.

And every case is different,
e.g. if the bus is legally full, what does a bus driver do?
Overload the bus and face severe consequences if there is an accident.

Wait at the bus stop until the next bus comes through, the passengers would not appreciate that either (and with bus frequency on the Sunshine Coast it wouldn't work)

Put off some full fare paying adults so that unpaying children can board?

If there are multiple children I would consider it safe to leave them together as a group, are these in the statistics used regarding kids left behind as being in danger when they are not?

There are lots of questions to be asked and answered.

The easy option was to say all children are to be collected, payment or no payment but there are practical realities on loading etc. that are not addressed and need to be.
What of serial non-payers (unsure if there are any or if it is rife but one can imagine the scenario), ok son, don't worry about the money as they have to pick you up anyway.

At the end of the day, this costs bus businesses money. They are not an ever filling cornucopia of diesel and wages.

At the end of the day it is the parents' responsibility to ensure the well-being and safety of their own children, and take measures to remove any risk.

[somebody]

These are the sorts of problems that you would expect the policy to have defined answers to.

[STB]

The problem I find with the no child left behind policy is that it's easily exploited and can be abused by some students (usually the high school kind), and thus gives them a bad attitude towards PT use in general as they get older, although one would hope that they grow out of that.

My parents have told me that they used to walk up to 5kms by themselves to get to school and never had a problem.  I used to walk about 2-3kms when I was a kid to/from school, sometimes just a wander on my own and never had a problem.  As long as my parents knew that I was going out, they were fine with it.

[Golliwog]

I think the problem with the policy is that in this political age we're in, people see it as the governments job to take responsibility for bad things that happen, and to then fix it. I think what does need to be done (and it will be highly unpopular) is for the government to say yes, no child left behind all well and good. But have some form of driver discretion. Repeat offenders can be left behind. I think school kids could be sorted out by having the driver collect student card details from non-paying students. Once they're in twice, pass it on to the school, who can then go about contacting parents, etc.

That said, I'm pretty sure with most things bus drivers do use their discretion. I know I went to get on a bus at QUT KG to head across to UQ and only when the bus turned up did I realise I had a negative balance. Instead of not letting me on and ending up with me being late, the driver (who I told where I was going as a final destination) let me on as I'd still be paying the same fare when I hopped on a 109/412 in the city after I topped up there.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Children abuse 'no child left behind' rule to scame (sic) free bus travel

Children abuse 'no child left behind' rule to scame free bus travel

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    May 28, 2012 12:00AM

CHILDREN as young as eight are taking advantage of the "no child gets left behind" bus policy by demanding free travel because they have no money to pay the fare.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson has called a meeting for Friday to "seriously look at the issue", believed to be costing TransLink and regional bus operators thousands of dollars.

One operator said drivers had tried taking down the child's name when they repeatedly had no fare, but were often given false names.

"Kids will walk on with 'I don't have any money and you can't leave me behind'," said the operator who did not want to be named. "(On) school and urban runs, they know the loophole and they play it."

Mr Emerson said he believed it would shock most Queenslanders that children and parents were exploiting and abusing a principle put in place after the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe.

"When children who flatly refuse to pay a fare are telling drivers that their name is Donald Duck then something is terribly wrong," he said.

David Tape from the Queensland Industry Bus Council welcomed the opportunity to address the issue at Friday's Bus Safety Committee meeting.

"That will look at what measures can be put in place to hopefully get rid of this increase in fare evasion, and legitimately protect children," Mr Tape said.

He said drivers were finding fare evasion tended to breed other anti-social behaviours in those children responsible.

"It's starting to increase once they get on the bus, in terms of misbehaving," Mr Tape said.

Passengers have also complained about full buses having to remain at stops where children are waiting, until another bus arrives to take them.

In March, The Courier-Mail revealed TransLink had received 1155 complaints of children not being collected by buses in southeast Queensland in the past two years.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
28/05/2012

"No child left behind" being abused

Abuse of the "no child left behind" principle on Queensland buses will be one of the first issues tackled at a meeting of bus operators, unions and government agencies called by Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson.

Mr Emerson said the meeting of the Bus Safety Committee this Friday will discuss growing concerns that some children and their parents are routinely exploiting the principle to avoid paying fares.

"I think it would shock most Queenslanders that some children and parents are reportedly exploiting a principle, put in place following the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe, for financial gain," Mr Emerson said.

"When children who flatly refuse to pay a fare are telling drivers that their name is Donald Duck then something is terribly wrong.

"I agree with the principle of 'no child left behind', but unlike the previous government I'm not going to ignore the challenges that come with it.

"I've asked that unions, operators and government agencies look seriously at this issue which has been of concern for more than a year.

"I accept there may not be a simple solution but it needs to be tackled rather than ignored."

Mr Emerson said the meeting would also discuss the fact that more than 500 complaints a year are made by parents and guardians in relation to children being left at bus stops as well as complaints by operators and drivers about passenger behaviour.

A representative from each of the Transport Workers' Union, Rail Tram and Bus Union, Queensland Bus Industry Council, TransLink, Brisbane City Council, and the Department of Transport and Main Roads will discuss bus safety issues at the meeting.

Some feedback from bus operators across South East Queensland:

    Children are abusive/disrespectful towards drivers. They laugh it off because they know drivers can't do anything about it. The Daniel Morcombe case is often quoted by children.
    Attitude is a major factor - many children say flippantly to drivers "you have to let me on because of no child left behind" and walk past the driver and sit down. The other one is "I've got no money but you know you have to take me".
    Students and parents are abusing the drivers and the system. We use the code of conduct to breach the students if we can get a name - the name being used the most is Donald Duck. It's very hard work to get the true name.
    Kids will walk on and say "I don't have any money and you can't leave me behind".

==============================================================

[#Metro]

Send in the TO's. That's what I would do for starters. Fine the parents.

Secondly, with a decent network, the need for school buses becomes redundant. Fix up the general network.

Thirdly, so little is recovered from school fares, what is the point? Make it free across the board.

Fourth, all Uni, TAFE and School Card ID's should be GoCard enabled

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Kids abusing Daniel Morcombe bus policy

Blog comment:

Be going on for a long time. Lets get real and give school children free public transport to and from school. Lots of broader benefits, least of which it might do something for the car-congestion-crisis at schools themselves. It improves the bus runs and gets rid of a lot of agro. Not rocket science anywhere else, but hey we are in Queensland. Lets call a meeting and talk about what has already been discussed many times. THINK OUT SIDE THE SQUARE. More of the same won't work.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/kids-abusing-daniel-morcombe-bus-policy-20120528-1zdoo.html

[achiruel]

Don't most buses have CCTV cameras?  Is there any way a driver could record the moment such a child boards and they could be identified from the CCTV and they or their parents be made to pay the fare, plus reasonable administration costs, at a later date?  This would also help weed out repeat offenders.

[Fares_Fair]

Great to hear the other side of this story from the Courier-Mail. 

[justanotheruser]

Send in the TO's. That's what I would do for starters. Fine the parents.

Secondly, with a decent network, the need for school buses becomes redundant. Fix up the general network.

Thirdly, so little is recovered from school fares, what is the point? Make it free across the board.

Fourth, all Uni, TAFE and School Card ID's should be GoCard enabled

While I don't like the idea provide compulsory id and make it that kids can't get on without it and they must show it. You will get a name then. i agree just provide free travel like in other states. I am assuming similar conditions as other states such as must live a certain distance from school. It took me 20 min to walk to school. I was about 150m too close to qualify. As I did music i often had to carry a heavier musical instrument. it was never a problem.

[justanotheruser]

Don't most buses have CCTV cameras?  Is there any way a driver could record the moment such a child boards and they could be identified from the CCTV and they or their parents be made to pay the fare, plus reasonable administration costs, at a later date?  This would also help weed out repeat offenders.

then we will have all the complaints about people using safety equipment for other purposes. That is fine if people are willing to ignore the complaints but I'm betting from past experience in various places in Qld that will not be the case.

[somebody]

I'd be more wondering if it would be worth it.  It would be a lot of trouble to identify someone from their video footage.  If you know their school from their uniform I guess that narrows it down a bit.

[ozbob]

The rules and regulations for subsidised travel to and from school are too complicated to be implemented on the go card  ( http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/other-tickets/school-tickets-and-fares ).  This is different to the normal concession fares.  There is a bureaucracy to manage the many variations, permutations and so forth.

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/School-transport/Assistance-schemes/School-Transport-Assistance-Scheme.aspx

I have come around to the position that the best outcome is to make transport to and from school free, for all in school uniform or with a school ID card if out of uniform (some schools do not have school uniforms, eg. Indooroopilly State High School).

[somebody]

Make sure that the little lovelies stand up for people paying full fares!

[achiruel]

Make sure that the little lovelies stand up for people paying full fares!

Good luck with that.

In my experience, TO's rarely enforce any rules that don't involve fare evasion as it is (e.g. feet on seats, eating/drinking, smoking, loud music etc.

[somebody]

Yeah well it isn't even a rule any more.

[ozbob]

I often note school children vacating seats for adults on trains.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Make sure that the little lovelies stand up for people paying full fares!

Good luck with that.

In my experience, TO's rarely enforce any rules that don't involve fare evasion as it is (e.g. feet on seats, eating/drinking, smoking, loud music etc.

As simon said, that's not really much of a rule anymore due to Translink taking over as the public provider and outlining the conditions of travel.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Fight fare dodgers with bus conductors, says drivers

Fight fare dodgers with bus conductors, says drivers
May 28, 2012 - 1:22PM

Bus drivers want the return of bus conductors in southeast Queensland to sort out fare-dodging school kids.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson has called a meeting with drivers and unions over concerns that some children and parents are exploiting the ''no child left behind'' principle to avoid paying fares.

The policy was adopted after Daniel Morcombe, 13, was taken from a bus stop on the Sunshine Coast in December 2003.

His remains were found late last year and a man was charged with his murder.

Transport Workers Union secretary Peter Biagini says a driver's job is to drive, not take on the added responsibility of sorting out why kids aren't paying bus fares.

He says bus conductors should be trialled in a problem area to identify repeat offenders and follow up with their parents.

"We need somebody with a bit of authority to say, 'Look, you're not paying your fare. Sorry, you can't travel,' and make that hard decision,'' he said.

He argues parents should take responsibility for a child's safety.   

"Parents have got to take responsibility, they've got to make sure their children are going on buses with money," he said.

If the cost of conductors can't be justified, the government should consider asking parents to pre-pay children's fares, Mr Biagini says.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson says he would rather bus drivers err on the side of caution than leave a child standing alone at a bus stop.

"I think it's a difficult problem, and I think we have to have some sympathy for the bus companies and the bus drivers as well if this (policy) is to be abused,'' he told reporters in Brisbane today.

AAP

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/fight-fare-dodgers-with-bus-conductors-says-drivers-20120528-1zed3.html

[Golliwog]

If they're going to stick with the "No Child Left Behind" policy, and keep fares then I think using security cameras at the front door is the way to go. Almost all will be in uniform, so the school can be identified, and send of the image of the offending student to the school office for identification and have it followed up from there. For out of uniform students go with, not a child/student if you can't produce a student card, and get an ID that way.

I do kind of support Ozbob's free student travel idea. But at the end of the day, someone has to pay be it government or the individual. If the government is paying, then it's really the individual through taxes anyway, or worse, coming from Translinks existing budget meaning less improvements elsewhere. Granted if it can be demonstrated that doing this will end up with people who will use PT once they leave school then could be seen as a benefit, but most people I know who drive around don't not use PT because they don't want to, but don't use it because it's not providing a good service to them.

As an aside though, what with kids these days? Back when I was in school I made use of the NCLB policy only once, and that was by mistake as I had miscounted the coins I grabbed from the coin tray at home for the bus fare. The big thing to me was, I felt bad for doing it. I wasn't entitled to a free ride, didn't matter that I was a kid and the bus was a council/Translink service. I just hate the things that people feel entitled to these days.

[justanotheruser]

"Parents have got to take responsibility, they've got to make sure their children are going on buses with money," he said.

and how do we do this? it is similar to talk of punishing parents whose kids don't attend school. A parent can drop their child off and then go to work. They can't stand there all day making sure their kid doesn't walk out the gate!
Likewise a parent can give their kid money for the bus but they can't stop the kid spending it or they can provide a go card for travelling to/from school but they can't if they are at work prevent their kid from not using it or using it for countless other trips leaving no money on it. Much like a parent can give a child a pre-paid mobile for emergencies but they can't stop the child from using all the credit in one day. If it is for emergencies well you have to give them more credit otherwise there is no point in having the phone. Of course when the perfect solution to that was offered by telstra the community stupidly prevented it by protests.

[ozbob]

On 612 ABC Brisbane Drive with Tim Cox, this afternoon discussion on this.

I sent this tweet which lead to an interesting  discussion

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

@612brisbane make school public transport free, bureaucracy is costly, revenue is minimal anyway. Many flow on benefits.

[justanotheruser]

Make sure that the little lovelies stand up for people paying full fares!

Why should we discriminate against children? People who legally don't pay for tickets aren't required to give up their seats. it has been proven that in the event of a crash the people least able to protect themselves when standing is kids. yet we like to pretend we actually care about kids by instituting a no child left behind policy. Why does the word hypocritical come to mind.

[somebody]

Who legally doesn't pay?  Only the disabled who can access the TL pass, surely?

[ozbob]

Who legally doesn't pay?  Only the disabled who can access the TL pass, surely?

TL Access Pass is actually paid for, nominal 12 monthly charge $60 --> http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/other-tickets/special-access-passes/translink-access-pass

TPI, Vision impaired, Companion Card, Assistance Animals (woof!  ), QPS in uniform, Queensland Rail Staff, Travel Trainer Pass, these categories travel for free. 

See --> http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/other-tickets/special-access-passes

QPS and Queensland Rail staff I know travel for free, see them pass through gates.

[Golliwog]

Not sure if it's still going, but when I worked at QRN (which was after the split, but not by much) QRN staff also got free train travel (but not bus or ferry) as part of their employment package.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane  Drive with Tim Cox click --> here!

Dodging those bus fares - David Tape

Dodging those bus fares - David Tape

28 May 2012 , 3:58 PM by Peter Gooch

The State Government has raised concerns today that the "no child left behind" policy on buses is being abused. Transport Minister Scott Emerson says some parents and children are exploiting the principle, put in place following the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe, for financial gain. It's on the agenda for a Bus Safety Committee meeting that's been convened for Friday. The Qld Bus Industry Council will be at that meeting. David Tape is Executive Director.

[Fares_Fair]

Story updated:

Article: Children abuse 'no child left behind' rule to scam free bus travel
by: Koren Helbig, Robyn Ironside
From:The Courier-Mail
May 28, 20121:14PM

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/children-abuse-no-child-left-behind-rule-to-scame-free-bus-travel/story-e6freoof-1226368765169

A FORMER Bligh government minister has admitted she was aware of children abusing the "no child gets left behind" policy to secure a free ride.

The Courier-Mail reported this morning children as young as eight are taking advantage of the "no child gets left behind" bus policy by demanding free travel because they have no money to pay the fare.

State Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk this afternoon said she had "several meetings with the different bus companies" about the issue during her time as transport minister.

But she was today unable to offer a solution, instead saying it was a complex issue that required discussion with different stakeholders.

"It's a very serious issue, we don't want any child left behind and it's an issue that needs to be talked extensively, not just with parents and schools and the community but also the bus companies involved because it's the bus drivers that have to face these issues," she said.

Ms Palaszczuk suggested an education program may be required.

"One thing that we were discussing is that people should be able to go out into the different schools and reiterate the policy so children don't abuse it," she said.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson has called a meeting for Friday to "seriously look at the issue", believed to be costing TransLink and regional bus operators thousands of dollars.

One operator said drivers had tried taking down the child's name when they repeatedly had no fare, but were often given false names.

"Kids will walk on with 'I don't have any money and you can't leave me behind'," said the operator who did not want to be named. "(On) school and urban runs, they know the loophole and they play it."

Mr Emerson said he believed it would shock most Queenslanders that children and parents were exploiting and abusing a principle put in place after the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe.

"When children who flatly refuse to pay a fare are telling drivers that their name is Donald Duck then something is terribly wrong," he said.

David Tape from the Queensland Industry Bus Council welcomed the opportunity to address the issue at Friday's Bus Safety Committee meeting.

"That will look at what measures can be put in place to hopefully get rid of this increase in fare evasion, and legitimately protect children," Mr Tape said.

He said drivers were finding fare evasion tended to breed other anti-social behaviours in those children responsible.

"It's starting to increase once they get on the bus, in terms of misbehaving," Mr Tape said.

Passengers have also complained about full buses having to remain at stops where children are waiting, until another bus arrives to take them.

In March, The Courier-Mail revealed TransLink had received 1155 complaints of children not being collected by buses in southeast Queensland in the past two years.

[#Metro]

But she was today unable to offer a solution, instead saying it was a complex issue that required discussion with different stakeholders.

"It's a very serious issue, we don't want any child left behind and it's an issue that needs to be talked extensively, not just with parents and schools and the community but also the bus companies involved because it's the bus drivers that have to face these issues," she said.

Ms Palaszczuk suggested an education program may be required.

Wow. This is the worst idea - like a free advertisement of the loophole to everyone. Who advises these people?!?!?

[HappyTrainGuy]

I might have to have a shave and dig out the old school uniform 

[justanotheruser]

yes mainly talking about railway staff free travel.  i believe emergency service staff get it as well but I am yet to see a police officer sit down when they get on the train. They automatically stand. There have been a couple of times I've suspected plain clothes being on the train sitting but no way to confirm it. Generally I have been pretty good at picking police who are in plain clothes.

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 29th May 2012 page 14

Let students ride free, groups says

[Gazza]

Another option...Have a travel card and pay the school travel upfront/in installments in necessary.
Price would be set at the fare multiplied by the number of school days in a year.