Two Douglass studnets hurt in bush crash
Two students who attend Douglass High School suffered minor injuries when the bus they were riding in collided with a car Thursday morning. They were taken to Mercy Hospital. The driver of the car received four tickets.
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How do your kids get to school?
My daughter really, really, really (really!) wants to ride a school bus to school.
We don’t live on the bus route, or within walking distance of school, so I drive her to kindergarten each day. I tell her she’ll ride the bus on field trips.
When I was a child, I walked with other kids to elementary school and rode the bus to middle school. Both options scare me for my child. I worry — maybe unreasonably — about accidents, strangers, mad dogs and dew-soaked shoes. So for now, I’m happy to drive.
The Associated Press gives some tips for parents wondering when their children are “ready” to walk to school without their parents. Here they are:
—Know your child. Some 10-year-olds are mature enough to handle the responsibility that goes with independence. Others are not.
—Consider the route. Are there major streets to cross? Will the child be walking or biking alone or with schoolmates?
—Set clear rules, such as whether your child must come straight home from school.
—Talk with other parents in your neighborhood about having kids walk or bike to school together. There is safety in numbers.
Do you have any suggestions? Comment here or e-mail me at ssimpson@oklahoman.com
Susan Simpson
The wheels on the bus go round and round…
The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round, the wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town.
I couldn’t help but find myself thinking of that tune as I wrote a collection of stories about school buses for today’s edition of The Oklahoman.
The articles touch on bus safety, the impact of fuel price hikes and the drivers themselves, and there’s a graphic, a photo gallery and a video to tell even more of the story.
We also ventured into a new type of multimedia with a news game.
If you haven’t tried it yet, click the image below and see if you have what it takes to safely deliver a bus load of children to school. (Make sure your audio is on.)
Then share your stories about riding the school bus here on NewsOK’s Education Station, as well as your thoughts on the school bus news game.
Wendy Kleinman
Education Reporter
Getting his Kicks
Andy Benton, a former Oklahoman and longtime president of Pepperdine University, is on a journey of a lifetime.
And he’s packed some good tunes for the ride.
Benton is driving his 2008 Mustang Bullitt along Route 66 from Chicago to Malibu.
His goal? To explore expectations Americans in the heartland have about education, especially higher education.
Benton is board chairman of the American Council on Education, an advocacy group that hopes to influence both government and public opinion.
He’s bound to get lots of opinion on this trip. About education, about Route 66, about his car and certainly about his eclectic choice of music. Songs include “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts, the musical score from the movie Gettysburg and “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream.
Here’s hoping he finds lots of sunshine on his way through Oklahoma tomorrow. I’ll be talking to him as he heads into Oklahoma City for a reception at the Skirvin Hotel with Pepperdine alumni.
In the meantime, you can check out his travel blog at http://www.pepperdine.edu/route66
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Sleepy Drivers
Yawn …. I’m having trouble staying awake long enough to write this post.
Not really, I’m just trying to set a tone here.
A new study by the Associated Professional Sleep Societies says that too many college students are driving sleepy. Some admitted to falling asleep at the wheel or causing an accident.
Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. So here are some tips to avoid it:
* Get enough sleep. This seems obvious but when you are pulling an all-night cram session or out late with your friends, you might not consider the risks.
* Take breaks while driving.
* Consume caffeine.
* Do not drink alcohol.
I’ll admit to DWS (driving while sleepy) when I was in college, and even sometimes now. Luckily, I usually have noisy kids in the car to keep me alert, or I blast some rocking 80s music. But luckily, my nights of cramming for tests and all-hours partying are over.
Thank goodness.
Susan Simpson
Because money doesn’t grow on trees
I wrote a story for today’s Oklahoman about a newly approved increase in school lunch prices in the Oklahoma City School District.
Steve Gallagher, director of child nutrition services, said at Monday night’s board meeting that the increase is needed to keep up with general rising food costs. He gave some reasons for the price jumps:
- Shifting corn and cropland to bioenergy uses.
- Using healthier but costlier foods like whole grains.
- Unusually severe weather patterns.
- Mandatory increases in minimum wage.
- Exporting food overseas to stronger markets.
“I wish that I could say that prices will go down and maybe we’ve maxed out, but I don’t think that’s the case,” Gallagher said Monday.
“It’s having a major impact on the entire food industry, as I’m sure Ms. Vines can attest to,” said Gallagher, referring to school board member Gail Vines, who co-owns Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria, a restaurant in the city.
Gallagher said another reason for the price hikes is the rising cost of fuel, which also was cited in a report Monday night about the transportation department.
The district started the year paying $2.70 per gallon for unleaded and $2.35 per gallon for diesel, transportation director Stephen Foster Jr. said.
The district is now paying $3.35 and $4.04, respectively.
Some NewsOK.com readers already have shared their feedback about the increasing costs. Add your thoughts to the mix on this online forum.
Wendy K. Kleinman
Education Reporter
