April 14, First Periodical of Ms. Abilities America, Inc.
Poetry Section or Writings by Our titleholders
My School on Wheels
By Vanessa Alsup
When you see a school bus pull up you think it’s only a bus, and I’m just a bus driver. The school
of bus driver is in session when all my students are seated. My first lesson for the day is: Math:
see how many students can fit in each seat. Travel Safety: sit in your seat until we get to a
destination, which is often difficult to enforce. Social studies: how many times I am blamed for
being racist for disciplining a child who isn’t white. Regardless of what is on the outside I do
what is safe and right. English: don’t cuss, call people names, and I hear more love stories then I
want to. Art: usually the students choose to create abstract art by leaving the bus driver’s
classroom covered in trash and their belongings. It’s not as beautiful when you have to clean it
at the end of the day. When you put your children with me in my classroom please understand
that I would not even dream of causing harm to your babies, when I have some of my own. I am
a parent, grandparent, and I have nieces and nephews. I don’t do this for money, or awards. I
truly look out for the precious lives I have on board. Some moments make my job worthwhile;
some make me cry and smile. I have many treasures I will keep in a special place from students
I have helped. I have laid my life on the line many times f