It's a No-Brainer
Perhaps it might appear to be unfair to the elderly that they cannot be permitted to do as they wish, particularly those who, though retired and well along in their years, feel they still have much to offer society. They're perfectly correct; if they feel inspired to remain within the work force nothing stops them from searching out jobs that seem suitable to their energy levels and their aspirations to continue working.
Above all, society has an ongoing need for volunteer assistance in a great many spheres of public life.
But people over the age of 70 offering their services as school bus drivers?
Think again, and consider carefully. As well preserved as some older people may be, and may think they are, their reflexes have, inexorably slowed. Their physical strength is not what it once was, their mental abilities slightly slower, and while they may be excellent drivers, their driving forays should be restricted to driving themselves - family members if they wish, but not a school bus-full of children.
It transpires that there are some school districts in British Columbia, Alberta and the Maritimes which will not permit bus drivers to ferry children to school, if they're over 65 years of age. People of that age may feel themselves yet young and capable and they may very well be, since individuals age at different rates; it is idiosyncratic, just as all things are among living organisms; one older individual may be supremely capable, while many others are not.
It is a general rule that should be set when dealing with the lives and well-being of an aggregation of vulnerable children. It isn't often that buses are involved in accidents, let alone school buses, but don't stack the deck. Advocates for the elderly protest that to cut older people off from driving school buses if they feel they're capable of doing it, is unfair. It is not unfair, it is a demonstration of the recognition of the fitness of things.
It is not fit that an older person driving a busload of children be depended upon to react in a timely manner as that same person might have done when much younger. Elderly hurt feelings are one thing in a denial of the opportunity to drive school buses, but balanced against the physical safety of children, those feelings of rejection should be tempered by the self-knowledge that no one would want to be responsible for an accident.
Issues such as a sudden onset of a critical health condition inimical to the driver and by extension to those in the bus entrusted to that driver's care increase with the increase in age of the driver. Sudden stroke, blood clots, impaired motor skills, hypoglycemia, any number of incapacitating events could occur, leaving the children in the care of a driver incapable of controlling unforeseen events at risk.
There have been more than adequate examples of 70-year-olds and those in their 80s responding incorrectly to traffic signals, and to incidents where quick decision-making balances life or death. It is more than fair to conclude that at age 65 the cut-off has arrived in chronological-health fitness for such an important job.
Above all, society has an ongoing need for volunteer assistance in a great many spheres of public life.
But people over the age of 70 offering their services as school bus drivers?
Think again, and consider carefully. As well preserved as some older people may be, and may think they are, their reflexes have, inexorably slowed. Their physical strength is not what it once was, their mental abilities slightly slower, and while they may be excellent drivers, their driving forays should be restricted to driving themselves - family members if they wish, but not a school bus-full of children.
It transpires that there are some school districts in British Columbia, Alberta and the Maritimes which will not permit bus drivers to ferry children to school, if they're over 65 years of age. People of that age may feel themselves yet young and capable and they may very well be, since individuals age at different rates; it is idiosyncratic, just as all things are among living organisms; one older individual may be supremely capable, while many others are not.
It is a general rule that should be set when dealing with the lives and well-being of an aggregation of vulnerable children. It isn't often that buses are involved in accidents, let alone school buses, but don't stack the deck. Advocates for the elderly protest that to cut older people off from driving school buses if they feel they're capable of doing it, is unfair. It is not unfair, it is a demonstration of the recognition of the fitness of things.
It is not fit that an older person driving a busload of children be depended upon to react in a timely manner as that same person might have done when much younger. Elderly hurt feelings are one thing in a denial of the opportunity to drive school buses, but balanced against the physical safety of children, those feelings of rejection should be tempered by the self-knowledge that no one would want to be responsible for an accident.
Issues such as a sudden onset of a critical health condition inimical to the driver and by extension to those in the bus entrusted to that driver's care increase with the increase in age of the driver. Sudden stroke, blood clots, impaired motor skills, hypoglycemia, any number of incapacitating events could occur, leaving the children in the care of a driver incapable of controlling unforeseen events at risk.
There have been more than adequate examples of 70-year-olds and those in their 80s responding incorrectly to traffic signals, and to incidents where quick decision-making balances life or death. It is more than fair to conclude that at age 65 the cut-off has arrived in chronological-health fitness for such an important job.
Labels: Human Relations, Realities, Social-Cultural Deviations
posted by Pieface @ 6:33 PM
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