Yesterday I went through an awful experience at school.
Every Friday afterschool, my daughter attends the club activity at the library. It is our routine that I pick her up at school. The students to be picked up wait for their parents in front of the school office.
When I arrive at the school, I didn’t see my daughter there.
At first I didn’t worry, because I knew kids would not come out right on time. Then after a while, a stranger girl came up to me and told me my daughter was on the bus.
My daughter is a smart child. She won’t forget when I tell her to wait at the school. I quickly went into the office and ask about my daughter. The receptionist told me the same thing; my daughter was on the bus. I was about to run to the bus area, but the receptionist told me to meet my daughter at our local bus stop because the bus already took off.
I felt dizzy. I knew my daughter would be worrying about me. She must have been crying for me at this moment.
I run to my car and started the engine. Her bus just passed by in front of me. I followed the bus. It was tough for me to drive as my tears covered my eyes. I was worrying about my daughter.
At our local bus stop, my daughter got off the bus. As I guessed, she was scared and crying. I run to her and held her in my arms. I was scared and crying too.
***
According to my daughter, the school receptionist urged her to take the bus. Since the voice of the receptionist was scary and demanding, my gentle daughter just followed her instruction, without knowing what happened to me. That was why my daughter was crying, worrying about me.
I was furious at the receptionist. She should have called me before she urged my daughter to take the bus.
***
After I came back home, I called the school. The questioned receptionist picked up the phone. She claimed she didn’t see me there and that was why she told my daughter to take the bus.
She was wrong in two things.
One: I was there on time.
Two: in any situations, in case I am late for emergency reasons in the future, the receptionist needs to call me before she urges my daughter to take the bus.
The receptionist never admitted she was wrong. She never apologized to me. She kept on saying all kinds of excuses to protect herself. I asked to connect me to the principal. Unfortunately however, the principal was not in the office.
I emailed the principal about my request to school. It was a simple request. It is to call me before they urge my daughter to take the bus.
***
PS — I still haven’t received a reply from the principal as of Monday afternoon. I hope I won’t need to contact his supervisor; superintendent, or his further higher-ups. This is a critical safety issue not only for me but also for other parents. I hope the school will do the right thing to change their procedure, which they have to.
♬ Any feedback? (^^♪
three wisdom 