Ravi and I worked on his reading project this weekend, until it was finished. The kids had to read a book, and make a paper bag vest. On the back of the vest was the name of the book: THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS Blows It's Top (a book about volcanoes). On the front Ravi drew a picture of Ms. Frizzle on one side, and the magic school bus on the other. I gave him a hand and drew the volcano on the back, behind the name of the book.
Ravi told his friends that he drew the volcano! I couldn't believe he did that. Well, the volcano was GOOD. I can understand why he would do it, but I know they didn't believe him since he told me about that too! Well, they all had to do a report on their book, and his went well fortunately... and that was surely authentic that he READ the book!
I will get a photo of the vest and share it here, and share the instructions on how to make it. It was a pretty cool project, and it was all FREE!
Okay....now about the REAL school bus. Ravi has been riding the school bus this year, and we have had one problem after another with the bus driver.
The long but freighting story is this: One day I picked Ravi up from school and our car and the school bus Ravi rides on were in the same turning lane, as she went into our neighborhood. Well, I was shocked to see her run the red light. I think she knew she was in trouble at that point, and just didn't care anymore. She was speeding (over 48 in a 40 zone, talking on the phone, the kids were jumping all over the bus, running up to her telling her I was following the bus. Thank goddess that Ravi was with me! I was freaking out big time. I couldn't believe the things I saw. I thought that she was just rude, and accidently almost ran over me. Finally after going to the school board and describing her behaviours, they said they would warn her. I am a pretty meek person most of the time, but when it comes to my kids, I am a mama bear! I told the supervisor..."Fine, if all the kids get killed on the bus, you will be held responsible for their deaths, I will sue you for every penny for negligence and I will let the press know that I came to you, and asked you to get her off the job, but you refused. He reconsidered and then told me she would be gone.
The next day a new bus driver was on, and he is great. Very nice to the kids, cares about his job ect. Well, Ravi started coming home with complaints about kids hitting him, poking him and calling him names on the bus...all of the bigger kids. I got on the bus yesterday morning and spoke to the driver, and relayed what happened to the other driver. I told him that he needs to get the kids under control so he doesn't have an accident, and needs to make sure the kids are all protected from bullies!
Damn! It makes me so mad to have to send my kid to school. I wanted to homeschool for many reasons...this being one of them...all the bullies in the school system who no one every does anything about.
Anyway, I told the driver and the kids that my son and I are excersizing his right to ride to school on the bus with out being hurt, called names, or to be scared. Even one of Ravi's classmates is scared. She rides on the same bus and the bullies took her shoes once for waving at me. I am the bad person because I got the bus driver fired. They are taking it out on Ravi now, and even his class mate. They used to sit together, but she was affraid to sit together because of the bullies. They even took her shoes away one day.
Well, the kids dad is a big, persusive man, with a dark beard and mustache, and he is going to ride the bus tomarrow with Ravi. I am pretty sure they will leave him alone after that.
If only I could home school. I haven't given up hope. If I can't, they will attend private schools.
Jyotsna
