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Bussing and Large School Problems

Go Small: Resisting Consolidation to Reduce School Bussing Issues

School busing issues are another result of school consolidation and the creation of larger schools. Communities lose their center when the community school is shut down—shopkeepers lose out, neighborhoods are demoralized, and volunteerism drops. Presently, American children are bussed out of the communities millions of miles per day, often taking in excess of 45 minutes daily. Large school proponents “pencil” bussing costs through demonstrating economy of scale savings, and yet these “savings” leave out environmental costs of busing and time spent in busses, and lost commerce in the neighborhood, among other detriments.

Growing research, available in our library, shows that large numbers of children find the bus ride forbidding and threatening if not physically harmful. School busing issues include a significant decrease in student fitness: In 1969, approximately 50% of children walked or bicycled to school compared to 15 percent who walk or bicycle to school (2009).

By staying small to reduce school bussing issues, we are helping keep communities in tact that otherwise suffer a loss of identity and coherence as a result of expanded school busing. In fact, staying small to reduce school bussing issues significantly reduces carbon footprint, pollution and the use fossil fuels, all of which benefit not just individual communities but our nation and world. You can learn more about going small to resist consolidation by reading these articles:

Articles and Research