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

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Bus boss begs parents to act

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Bus drivers risking their lives: Minister

Bus drivers risking their lives: Minister
June 1, 2012 - 12:16PM

Bus drivers are putting their lives at risk when they go to work, Queensland's Transport Minister has said as he announced a bus security blitz on the Gold Coast and a deadline for recommendations stopping children and parents exploiting the 'No Child Left Behind' policy.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson called a Bus Safety Committee meeting today for bus operators, unions and government agencies to discuss the 'No Child Left Behind' policy implemented in the wake of the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe, and a crackdown on passengers who assault drivers.

Mr Emerson said it was "disgusting" children were reportedly taking advantage of the policy, in which bus drivers are unable to refuse a ride for a child who has no Go Card or ticket fare, in order to get free bus trips.

Today he gave Bus Safety Committee members ''a few months'' to come up with ways to tackle the problem.

In the meantime, there would be a blitz on the Gold Coast to crack down on thugs on public transport, but Mr Emerson would not say which suburbs would be targeted or when.

"No worker going to work should expect that their workplace be a risk to them and that's what we've been seeing for bus drivers in these circumstances, where they're going to work and they're putting their lives at risk," he said.

"That is a real drama and a real problem for us to deal with, it was discussed in the meeting and that's why we're looking at those blitzs on the Gold Coast which at the moment has been the real hub of these issues.

"We also had police representatives there as well to try to work out if police can be better involved in these issues."

The blitz will involve transit officers and senior network officers travelling on buses at random to monitor behaviour.

They have the power to detain unruly passengers, ask for identification, and issue on-the-spot fines.

The Bus Safety Committee will meet again in several months and Mr Emerson said the principle of "No Child Left Behind" would remain intact but something had to be done to stop children using it to ride for free.

"Most people would feel disgusted that some people are abusing that principle, put in place after Daniel Morcombe's disappearance, to avoid a fare," he said.

Thirteen-year-old Daniel Morcombe went missing on the Sunshine Coast in 2003 while waiting at an unofficial bus stop. A bus that was running late failed to stop for him and he disappeared soon afterwards.

His remains were found last year in bushland in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast. His parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe campaigned for the 'No Child Left Behind' policy to be created, under which no child can be left by the side of the road by a bus, whether they have money for a ticket or not.

If a bus is full the driver must wait with a child at a bus stop until another service arrived.

The Bus Safety Committee's meeting comes after a bus driver was robbed at knifepoint last night on Brisbane's bayside.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/bus-drivers-risking-their-lives-minister-20120601-1zlvw.html

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Bus blitz to stop driver attacks on the Gold Coast

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
01/06/2012

Security blitz to tackle bus thugs

Thugs of any age aren't welcome on board public transport in Queensland, with the Newman Government today announcing a security blitz on the Gold Coast.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson has vowed to crack down on anti-social behaviour on board public transport following the new government's inaugural Bus Safety Committee meeting this morning (Friday, June 1).

"The message is simple - if you play up on public transport you will be caught and you will be punished," Mr Emerson said.

"In the coming months, TransLink Transit Officers and Senior Network Officers will be conducting a blitz targeting fare evasion and anti-social behaviour on-board Gold Coast public transport.

"Regardless of age, if you are caught, you will face the consequences and offenders may face a possible ban from public transport or potentially criminal charges."

Mr Emerson confirmed the LNP Government's commitment to retaining the "No Child Left Behind" principle, despite some students using it as an excuse not to pay a fare.

"I acknowledge there are no simple solutions but I won't be sticking my head in the sand like the previous government and pretending the problem doesn't exist," Mr Emerson said.

Assistant Minister for Public Transport Steve Minnikin said if the government was going to reverse the trend of declining patronage, drivers and passengers must feel safe and secure.

"There are no quick fixes to problems like this which is why we have an industry working closely together to identify solutions," Mr Minnikin said.

"These issues will be investigated and the findings will be presented at future meetings of the Bus Safety Committee.

"Our government is committed to working with industry, police and the relevant authorities to address these issues, change behaviours and to restore the trust of the travelling public."

The Bus Safety Committee is due to meet again in the next quarter.

[ENDS] 1 June 2012

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail 2nd June 2012 page 18

Parents in frame for fare denial

[Fares_Fair]

Sounds good to me.
As parents are responsible for their children.

"The bucks stop here." to misquote a famous quote of the sign on President Truman's desk, but first used by Colonel A. B. Warfield.

From Wikipedia:
During WWII, Warfield was commandant of the Lathrop Holding and Reconsignment depot at Stockton, California and he had such a sign on his desk and was photographed with it in October 1942 for a story in the Reno Evening Gazette.

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Bus drivers in daily battle

Bus drivers in daily battle

Paul Smeaton | 7th June 2012 6:00 AM

POSITION VACANT: Person required for full-time job working split shifts up to 19 hours a day. Approximate income of $38,000 p.a. Must have heavy vehicle licence. Security and self-defence training is not required but beneficial. Policing experience would be an advantage.

Would you want to be a school bus driver in Ipswich?

After the recent sacking of a Westside Buses driver for leaving a child behind at a bus stop, the QT spoke to four Ipswich bus drivers about their experiences.

Driver 1: "It's very hard to concentrate when you have kids behind you yelling and screaming.

"You have to take your eyes off the road to see what is going on.

"What we would like is for Translink or the Education Department to get off their butts and put inspectors on every bus. We're the ones that get abused."

Driver 2: "Kids run riot on the bus but the biggest problem is the ones that won't pay. We try to write them up, but in the end it is pretty much a waste of time.

"Some kids whose parents are paying over $10,000 a year for them to go to school try to dodge a $1.22 fare ... why?"

Driver 3: "A supervisor is the thing that is most needed.

"There are a lot of times when we just have to pull over because you simply cannot drive under the circumstances that we face. It shouldn't be our responsibility to discipline kids ... but it is."

Driver 4: "I was driving when a fight broke out over a seat allocation. I tried to talk to the kids but within five minutes one of them was stabbing the other in the neck with a compass.

"It could very easily have been me that got a compass in the side of the neck. All you can do when you are a school bus driver is to sit down, shut your mouth and let them get on with it."

Transport Workers Union official Brendan Bogle said it was time to get serious.

"The union is calling on the P&Cs to sit down with drivers. It's not fair that blame gets thrown back at the drivers," he said.

"It's time the 'no child left behind' policy was reviewed.

"If the kids know how to the beat the system, the system needs to change."

[#Metro]

What about pre-pay passes. Make them pay once, at the start of the year. Not hard to work out the cost for that.

[SurfRail]

What about pre-pay passes. Make them pay once, at the start of the year. Not hard to work out the cost for that.

"Sorry, I've lost my pass"  (ie "Mum never paid for it").

Problem remains.

[WTN]

I'd say send in the inspectors or other authorised staff. It might curb the situation, but what if kids don't carry identification and don't give information? Following them home to see their parents might be one way, but that's creepy.

[HappyTrainGuy]

What is the actual policy on the no child left behind ie ages?

[justanotheruser]

I'd say send in the inspectors or other authorised staff. It might curb the situation, but what if kids don't carry identification and don't give information? Following them home to see their parents might be one way, but that's creepy.

make sure the inspectors have the power to detain them until their identity can be verified. if this means calling in the police then so be it. Mum or dad can be called in and asked to pay the fare when they collect their child or perhaps the first time can sit down with the parents and work out a solution.

[Fares_Fair]

I'd say send in the inspectors or other authorised staff. It might curb the situation, but what if kids don't carry identification and don't give information? Following them home to see their parents might be one way, but that's creepy.

make sure the inspectors have the power to detain them until their identity can be verified. if this means calling in the police then so be it. Mum or dad can be called in and asked to pay the fare when they collect their child or perhaps the first time can sit down with the parents and work out a solution.

Worth a trial I'd say.

Perhaps make it a policy to contact the parents by telephone and get them to come to the bus stop with the fare for the child.
If it interrupts their work, all the better - they will perhaps learn to be responsible for their children in future.

The parent and child can then wait for the next bus (freeing up the inspector) or drive their child themselves if there isn't another bus.
If the parents cannot pay then they can drive their child, or get another family member or grandparent to do so, if they have no car or licence.
At the end of the day this IS a parental responsibility issue.

But then again I would never let my 13 year old stay home with older siblings overnight (unless the siblings were 18 and responsible).
Again, ultimately, a parental responsibility issue.

I pay for my kids' school bus travel in advance each term.
Works for us.

[#Metro]

"Sorry, I've lost my pass"  (ie "Mum never paid for it").

Problem remains.

Saturate the buses for the first month with inspectors, that'll do the trick

[somebody]

Hmm.  Giving your name as donald duck could infer a criminal act - intention to defraud or some such.  Which would make it a police matter.

[justanotheruser]

I'd say send in the inspectors or other authorised staff. It might curb the situation, but what if kids don't carry identification and don't give information? Following them home to see their parents might be one way, but that's creepy.

make sure the inspectors have the power to detain them until their identity can be verified. if this means calling in the police then so be it. Mum or dad can be called in and asked to pay the fare when they collect their child or perhaps the first time can sit down with the parents and work out a solution.

Worth a trial I'd say.

Perhaps make it a policy to contact the parents by telephone and get them to come to the bus stop with the fare for the child.
If it interrupts their work, all the better - they will perhaps learn to be responsible for their children in future.

The parent and child can then wait for the next bus (freeing up the inspector) or drive their child themselves if there isn't another bus.
If the parents cannot pay then they can drive their child, or get another family member or grandparent to do so, if they have no car or licence.
At the end of the day this IS a parental responsibility issue.

But then again I would never let my 13 year old stay home with older siblings overnight (unless the siblings were 18 and responsible).
Again, ultimately, a parental responsibility issue.

I pay for my kids' school bus travel in advance each term.
Works for us.

Can you please provide evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that in all cases it is the parents failing to pay for tickets. it has long been practice that some kids will use money for their own purpose even if given money for bus fare. Go cards get misplaced, lost or possibly stolen by a bully. All a inconvienence for a day or two yet you are happy to punish parent for because you assume the parent is always trying to avoid paying the fare.

[somebody]

Can you please provide evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that in all cases it is the parents failing to pay for tickets.

Does it matter?  The parents are responsible anyway.  Unless the money is stolen.

[justanotheruser]

Can you please provide evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that in all cases it is the parents failing to pay for tickets.

Does it matter?  The parents are responsible anyway.  Unless the money is stolen.

point is some parents may be doing the right thing but their kids aren't. Putting the parents out when they have no ability to control the situation simply because they are at work does not seem reasonable to me.

[Otto]

Many a time, I've had kids get on my bus ( pre No leave behind policy ) with a burger in one hand, drink in the other and claim not to have any money..

[Fares_Fair]

Can you please provide evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that in all cases it is the parents failing to pay for tickets.

Does it matter?  The parents are responsible anyway.  Unless the money is stolen.

point is some parents may be doing the right thing but their kids aren't. Putting the parents out when they have no ability to control the situation simply because they are at work does not seem reasonable to me.

Some may be, don't disagree with you there... However, if the kids are not doing the right thing, it is STILL the parents responsibility.
They need to train and or discipline their kids to be responsible.

A move like the one suggested would motivate them to act.

[justanotheruser]

Can you please provide evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that in all cases it is the parents failing to pay for tickets.

Does it matter?  The parents are responsible anyway.  Unless the money is stolen.

point is some parents may be doing the right thing but their kids aren't. Putting the parents out when they have no ability to control the situation simply because they are at work does not seem reasonable to me.

Some may be, don't disagree with you there... However, if the kids are not doing the right thing, it is STILL the parents responsibility.
Thay need to train and or discipline their kids to be responsible.

A move like the one suggested would motivate them to act.

Ok how would you suggest they do it? be aware that I have worked in youth and disability sector so am well aware that some parents try but at the end of the day sometimes unless your physically there you just can't make them. I'm not a believer in punishing people for doing the right thing. While it would be the exception not the rule I disagree with pulling the parent out of work (which you couldn't actually enforce) unless you are certain they have not done the right thing.

[Fares_Fair]

Can you please provide evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that in all cases it is the parents failing to pay for tickets.

Does it matter?  The parents are responsible anyway.  Unless the money is stolen.

point is some parents may be doing the right thing but their kids aren't. Putting the parents out when they have no ability to control the situation simply because they are at work does not seem reasonable to me.

Some may be, don't disagree with you there... However, if the kids are not doing the right thing, it is STILL the parents responsibility.
Thay need to train and or discipline their kids to be responsible.

A move like the one suggested would motivate them to act.

Ok how would you suggest they do it? be aware that I have worked in youth and disability sector so am well aware that some parents try but at the end of the day sometimes unless your physically there you just can't make them. I'm not a believer in punishing people for doing the right thing. While it would be the exception not the rule I disagree with pulling the parent out of work (which you couldn't actually enforce) unless you are certain they have not done the right thing.

I appreciate your point J and I do not agree with punishing the wrong people, but as a parent myself, the buck stops here, especially for my children.
It's simple chain of command, I AM responsible for my kids. Full stop.
All parents should be.

This is a suggestion, and one that would work in my opinion.
I'm not saying it is perfect.

[somebody]

Surely this is a problem already solved by the legal system.  In some cases, kids are sent to juvy.  In others, they find other solutions.  I don't see why we should be responsible for sorting out the details of such a thing.

[Fares_Fair]

Surely this is a problem already solved by the legal system.  In some cases, kids are sent to juvy.  In others, they find other solutions.  I don't see why we should be responsible for sorting out the details of such a thing.

We're from RBoT and we're here to help ... (just kidding, views not endorsed by RBoT)

[HappyTrainGuy]

Just apply the Sparta rule.

No fare??

Close the doors and off the bus goes