Sitting at the Front: School Bus Drivers' Perceptions of Bullying on the Bus

• In Event: 51.079 - MTCC Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: 51.079-9 - The Dynamic Role of Principals and Staff in School Climate and Culture

Abstract

Bullying is overlooked on school buses, despite the large number of students that ride them daily. This multi-phase research gathered data from bus drivers about their preparedness for addressing bullying. First, a survey was distributed to a sample of thirty bus drivers in Southern Ontario, and was analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Then, ten follow-up semi-structured interviews with survey participants explored their perceptions and experiences in more depth. Findings indicate that 74% of the surveyed bus drivers experienced bullying, and drivers reported increased frequency and severity of bullying when school administration provided less support. The findings from this study will contribute to understanding bullying in school bus environments, as experienced by bus drivers.

Authors

• Sawyer Hogenkamp, Queen's University

• Benjamin Bolden, Queen's University