scatterbunny
New member
Okay, not the best title, but I couldn't figure out how to word it.
At H's school they have a reading program that includes take-home books and a reading log. Parents are supposed to write down every book the child reads, every book the parent reads to the child and every book the parent and child read together. When we have logged 100 books the child gets to go to a local ice cream parlor with a group of students who also reached the goal. H has been talking about this forever and was very excited.
The permission slip came home on Friday and it said transportation is not by school bus, but by a private driver, and the school does not inquire as to the driving record or insurance coverage of the driver.
I called the school and the secretary told me it's actually H's reading teacher (another 1st grade teacher) who will be providing transportation. I left a voicemail with the teacher and she called me back within 5 minutes. I explained my concerns to her, adding that I'm a CPST and that our state law changed over the past summer and all kids under age 8 or under 80 pounds must be in a booster. I said H couldn't come unless I could send her with a booster seat, and that, by law, all those kids should still be in boosters (all first graders, all age 6-7, none over 80 pounds that I am aware of).
The teacher told me she drives an older Jeep with only lapbelts in the back. Which means she is exempt from Oregon law, the kiddos are legal to ride in just the lapbelts. I explained how it was safER for the kids to use only the lapbelts, instead of a booster plus the lapbelt. So I said H would need to ride up front in her booster so she had a shoulderbelt. The teacher was very concerned and wanted to know more, about how she could safely transport the kids, if she should have them walk to the ice cream parlor in the rain, what type of restraints, if any, would work in her vehicle. She's a grandma (her youngest child is 24) and had no idea she wasn't doing things as safely as possible.
I gave her the contact info for EZOn and told her I'd get the tether anchor info for her Jeep today, and then she asked me to put together some booster seat info in both English and Spanish to put in every child's cubby (to be sent home in their backpacks).
When the school has its yearly carnival I'm going to ask about having a car safety booth and/or offering seat checks.
Aaaaannnnd, I go to all this trouble only to realize H's allergy appointment (1.5 hours away) is tomorrow at 1 pm. There's no way we'll be back in time for her to do the ice cream parlor trip at 3:10. She's going to be soooo disappointed. I'm going to hear about it all night tonight.
At H's school they have a reading program that includes take-home books and a reading log. Parents are supposed to write down every book the child reads, every book the parent reads to the child and every book the parent and child read together. When we have logged 100 books the child gets to go to a local ice cream parlor with a group of students who also reached the goal. H has been talking about this forever and was very excited.
The permission slip came home on Friday and it said transportation is not by school bus, but by a private driver, and the school does not inquire as to the driving record or insurance coverage of the driver.
I called the school and the secretary told me it's actually H's reading teacher (another 1st grade teacher) who will be providing transportation. I left a voicemail with the teacher and she called me back within 5 minutes. I explained my concerns to her, adding that I'm a CPST and that our state law changed over the past summer and all kids under age 8 or under 80 pounds must be in a booster. I said H couldn't come unless I could send her with a booster seat, and that, by law, all those kids should still be in boosters (all first graders, all age 6-7, none over 80 pounds that I am aware of).
The teacher told me she drives an older Jeep with only lapbelts in the back. Which means she is exempt from Oregon law, the kiddos are legal to ride in just the lapbelts. I explained how it was safER for the kids to use only the lapbelts, instead of a booster plus the lapbelt. So I said H would need to ride up front in her booster so she had a shoulderbelt. The teacher was very concerned and wanted to know more, about how she could safely transport the kids, if she should have them walk to the ice cream parlor in the rain, what type of restraints, if any, would work in her vehicle. She's a grandma (her youngest child is 24) and had no idea she wasn't doing things as safely as possible.
I gave her the contact info for EZOn and told her I'd get the tether anchor info for her Jeep today, and then she asked me to put together some booster seat info in both English and Spanish to put in every child's cubby (to be sent home in their backpacks).
When the school has its yearly carnival I'm going to ask about having a car safety booth and/or offering seat checks.
Aaaaannnnd, I go to all this trouble only to realize H's allergy appointment (1.5 hours away) is tomorrow at 1 pm. There's no way we'll be back in time for her to do the ice cream parlor trip at 3:10. She's going to be soooo disappointed. I'm going to hear about it all night tonight.