As some of you know, my daughter began preschool this year. She is attending a pre-kindergarten program at a private Catholic School in the county in which I live. The private school has pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
While the preschool or pre-kindergarten class is in a separate building from the rest of the school, they still do many activities that the school children participate in. For example, they are included in fundraisers, eating in the cafeteria, computer lab, field trips, etc.
My daughter only attends school two days a week. For a fall activity, the pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade class (the class sizes are small) took a field trip to a pumpkin patch.
I chose not to let my daughter attend.
My daughter is an average to small newly turned four little girl. I knew the people attending the trip and I knew that she would be well looked after and cared for. However, the transportation really bothers me.
We all know that school buses do not have seat belts. Therefore seat belt laws do not apply. They also do not have car seats or booster seats. Therefore, those laws do not apply either.
If I am pulled over in my car, I can receive a ticket for not having my child in a booster seat. She is small enough that I still have her in a larger car seat that converts to a booster.
It is very upsetting to me that when with their parents or in a private vehicle the safety standards for children are completely different from those in public transportation.
I know that when she enters kindergarten she will take field trips and ride a bus. I know that she, like the other children, will not have a seat belt. However, right now, I am not ready to let go that much.
We Went Shopping for Preschool!