From the very first day of school, I as well as many other Logan County parents, have become unhappy with the some aspects of our children's daily commute to school.

Crowded buses, three to a seat, without seat belts, and prolonged travel time, some elementary students traveling over an hour each way.

These issues are not merely a question of comfort, but safety issues.

There is no state mandate on number of children per seat only a manufacturer's recommendation of three small children per seat, this becomes an impossible situation, with book bags, coats and school required projects.

The 39-inch seat has become quite crowded long before the children get into the second grade.

Recently seat belts on school buses have gotten more attention, yet they are still not mandatory. Seat belts would cost $1.50 per belt to be installed on existing buses and limiting the number of children to 2 per seat.

The time factor of a bus ride is a very good indication of how children will behave on that bus. Children are required to face forward and sit up straight in their seats with both feet on the floor, no eating, drinking or gum chewing, they may not have anything out of their book bags. That means no reading or studying, they may talk quietly only with driver's permission. This can be an hour or longer trip.

Being tired, cramped, bored and uncomfortable are contributing factors to disruptive behavior. These problems are important and need to be addressed, yet I have something even more shocking to share.

About a month ago, a new bus driver was assigned to my grandchildren's bus route. This can be a very unsettling event, just as with a substitute teachers, children will become unruly.

My daughter learned the new bus driver had a second job. working third shift in a factory in Springfield. Tenn. I was astounded when she told me.

Mr. Sams at the bus garage told her, "Yes , this driver does work third shift in Springfield and.... in Logan County there are other bus drivers that also work third shift. There's no

problem with bus drivers working third shift."

I couldn't believe that the head of the bus garage saw

nothing wrong with a driver working all night then picking up a load of children.

We wondered what to do. First thing my grandchildren became car riders.

Secondly we talked with the superintendent. He asked, "Has she had an accident?" This question stumped us.

Does an accident have to happen? Do children have to be hurt?

Superintendent Marshall Kemp and Jim. Thompson, head of Logan County Schools Transportation, informed us that the driver in question had "voluntarily" quit her third shift job, Superintendent Kemp went on to explain how he

couldn't ask bus drivers not to work third shift jobs, how that might trample "their rights". He also explained that the job of bus driver is classified as a full-time job even though they may only work 21/2 -3 1/2 hour daily, yet are paid for 20 hours per week, with full benefits

When asked about the crowded bus, and the length of time our children were on the bus, Mr. Thompson immediately stated that ours wasn't the only hour long route and there were buses that were far more crowded than ours.

I did silently thank God and the new bus driver for giving up her third shift job. This issue can not be shut up in a drawer, or passed over , where our children are concerned and their safety an issue, we as parents are going

to have to find solutions..... even if Superintendent Kemp and Mr. Thompson can't.

Then we were informed by the new bus driver that she had not quit her third shift job, but was only on a brief temporary leave of absence.

Logan County bus drivers are well within their "rights" to hold third shift jobs, yet our children endure long commutes on crowded buses with bus drivers who may are may

not be suffering from sleep deprivation. Where are their rights?