Sometimes it's the bus driver who's the nincompoop

The term nincompoop is one my late father used to describe someone who demonstrated unusual incompetence. Today I was the nincompoop. Half way through the morning eighth grade/high school route, one of the students yelled from the back of the bus "Can you turn the heat on? It's cold back here!" I was somewhat perplexed because earlier I had turned the heater fans on low which is usually enough to satisfy everyone even on a cold morning. It really wasn't that cold, high 50's. But closely following days in the mid 80's, it probably seemed much colder. So I turned the fans on high. Another student shouted back, "Not the air conditioner!" I mistook that for sarcasm and ignored it. Nothing else was said for the duration of the ride. Later that morning I discovered that I had not turned the valve that circulates hot water through the compartment heaters. So the fans were in fact recirculating cold air, which no doubt felt like air conditioning. I was so embarrased, even though I was the only one on the bus. The students surely must have labeled me a nincumpoop, and rightfully so. Sometimes it is the bus driver who is the problem on the bus.

Singing happy birthday

I have maintained a tradition on my elementary route that involves everyone on the bus singing happy birthday to any student who has a birthday either on that day or on the weekend. They get the biggest kick out of doing that. And of course the lucky birthday boy/girl enjoys it most of all. It is an easy way of giving recognition and bolstering self esteem to all students, many of whom do not get a regular dose of that. It is easy, fun and well worth the effort.