A couple of weeks ago we woke up to news on a Tuesday morning that there would be bus delays in Boston for students who take transportation to school.  It seemed to start small but by the time children should have been boarding buses it was a full blown strike.  It was an illegal strike according to BPS.  The drivers staged the strike, not officially backed by the union.  They were protesting a number of grievances including a new GPS system that allows parents to track where their child’s bus is.

On that Tuesday it was estimated that 30% of students missed school without adequate transportation. Families struggled to figure out alternative plans.  Teachers spent class time calling families to be sure there would be someone to pick up children at the end of the day.

We are very fortunate that we have a large network and support group that can help us out when we need it.  While the boys are officially on the transportation lists (we live 1.1 mile from the school, qualifying us), just about every day they are driven to and from school.  We are lucky to have people to help us.  We are lucky to have flexible jobs that allow us to make necessary arrangements.  For that reason, our kids had no problem being in school the day of the bus strike.  Not everyone is so lucky.  Access is necessary for equality in education.

On that day of the bus strike, Boston Ballet came to Aidan’s class.  There is a program available to third graders in BPS.  Students “audition” and those who express interest are offered the opportunity to participate in a ten week program at Boston Ballet beginning in January.  Children meet other students from other schools, there are approximately 5-6 students from each classroom invited.  Transportation, dance clothes and shoes and lessons are provided at no cost to families.  It is an exceptional opportunity.  But a student has to be there to audition.  Access is necessary for equality.

Aidan was very excited to be chosen but immediately mentioned that not everyone had a chance to “audition” since children were absent.  It turns out there was also a field trip for fifth graders to Thompson’s Island scheduled for that day.

There is another reason we are very lucky.  We have a fantastic school principal.  When asked about the students who missed the day she reassured me that those who missed would have a chance to audition on another day- Boston Ballet would be coming back.  And the field trip was rescheduled as well.

Without everyone in the classroom to learn and to teach each other, our classrooms are not at their best, most equitable or fair to all children.  When the bus drivers decided to strike, they not only limited the families who could not provide transportation for their children, they also shortchanged all our children from a day of teaching and learning.  It was a day we could not get back but luckily (in our school) all children were still given exceptional opportunities even if it needed to happen on another day.