Unfortunately, one out of every five students report being bullied. Bullying takes place on the school bus, school hallways, classrooms, cafeterias and even online. The negative impacts that it leaves behind are long-lasting on young minds affecting their self-image and mental health. While many times, bullying is addressed in the classrooms and campuses, measures are hardly extended on school buses.
Here are three ways to counter bullying and protect children on school buses.
Organizing the School Bus
School buses are one of the most likely places for a child to be bullied – why? One of the main reasons is the lack of adult supervision. Students are often not monitored by an adult in school buses and the supervision is left up to the driver, who can’t drive and look after the students simultaneously.
- Bus Monitors: Appointing a bus monitor would make the children more conscious of their behavior. The monitor would be responsible for observing behavior and reporting any incidents back to the teachers or principals. Additionally, students afraid of bullying will feel safer, knowing a responsible adult is there, specifically for their safety.
- Seating Charts: Transportation departments can leverage school bus routing software to create organized seating charts that are accessible to all stakeholders. This can make it easier to seat students known to cause problems to be monitored and observed.

Extending The Role of Bus Drivers
School buses are often not seen as part of the school as they’re seen as a “hired service” with “hired help.” Bus drivers complain that the administration does not intervene as they would have if it happened within the school. [FH5]
- Train Bus Drivers: Research [FH6] shows that bus drivers who are trained and feel like an integral part of school operations feel much more comfortable in reporting incidents. It is recommended that bus drivers should be trained to tackle bullying in alliance with how their school responds[FH7] . They would be responsible for reporting back to school staff or families and children would feel more accountable for their behavior on the bus.
- Create an Online System: Bus drivers can have specific forms created within the routing software to facilitate them in reporting any misdemeanors — directly submitting to school personnel and parents.
Implementing Strict School Policies
With many children sharing school buses, it also becomes difficult to determine and control behavior.
- District-Wide Implementation: Schools in a district should follow the same policy on bullying, clearly communicating acceptable and inappropriate behavior. Appointing bus drivers or monitors as the authority figures, to report back any incidents.
- Zero-Tolerance Policy: School administration is the central force in determining policies and measures to prevent bullying. Schools can establish a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying with strict consequences if they receive a complaint or catch someone in the act.

Conclusion
Addressing bullying on school buses is a critical step in creating a safer and more inclusive environment for all students. By implementing bus monitors, training drivers to recognize and respond to bullying, and enforcing strict school-wide policies, schools can extend their anti-bullying efforts beyond classrooms and campuses. It’s essential for school administrations, parents, and transportation staff to work together to ensure that school buses are not just a means of transport but also a safe space for every child.