Aug 17, 2008 3 min read

In several weeks the beauty of residing on Martha Street in Uniontown will again be enhanced as parents are seen walking their children to the corner of Derrick Avenue and Martha Street – a school bus stop – where their children will begin life’s journey in a safe and secure environment. An educative process that has assured the future of our country for 232 years. The continual safety of our children has been hyped with the national media’s regular reports of the violent and irrational behavior in public and private K-12 education. This collapse of civility has resonated in the home and hearts of family, friends and foes alike. The result being parents fearful of sending their children to an unsafe environment and a child’s concern best illustrated by the 1st grader who after viewing a visual report of the mass shootings in Columbine, asked “Can this happen to me, mommy?”

Ask any mother and most will state that children would rather stay at home where they are safe, secure and comfortable. A child’s first day of school should be a happy and rewarding experience. That is not always the case.

The first thing a child sees is a large cell-like yellow and black conveyance – the school bus – not a very inviting sight. A large segment of the public is for improving the appearance and safety features of the school bus. It could well be the “spark” that eventually leads to a change of attitude.

Can we restore the beauty and eliminate the ugly forces? A good beginning would be to change the appearance of the bus, contractors’ obligations permitting. The bus should be an inviting place to begin a child’s school day. Pictures of joyful, smiling students displayed on the sides of the bus, as if summoning other children into comfortable seats with seat belts, would be a responsible and refreshing start.

Political leaders will tell you that the cost of making such a correction would be exorbitant. Cost is usually a project killer; however, creative and alternate sources of financing should be explored. We should plan and promote the involvement of the students to make them feel that they are part of a major effort to help each other, so that a bond of friendship exists between them and the teachers based upon mutual respect and trust. Student involvement can result in a successful, enlightened project, here, there and everywhere.

We consider it a privilege to help children endure and to “lift a happy heart.”

Emil T. Beck

Stephany M. Beck

Uniontown