I had a very disappointing experience during my daughter's school field trip to the San Francisco…read moreZoo on June 2, 2026 (Bus #82-11).
From the moment we boarded the bus, the female driver spoke to the children, who were only 6 and 7 years old, in a very aggressive and intimidating tone. She repeatedly shouted rules such as "No food on my bus" and "No talking on my bus." The children were excited for their field trip, but many became quiet, nervous, and visibly afraid because of the way she spoke to them.
Throughout the ride from Hayward to San Francisco, she continued making harsh announcements and telling students they were too loud. Even some teachers commented that her tone was uncomfortable and intimidating.
At one point, I told the teachers that the children did not seem to feel safe or comfortable because of the driver's behavior and the way she was speaking to them. Many of the students appeared frightened rather than simply being reminded of the bus rules.
My daughter briefly stood up to hand something to a friend, and I immediately helped her sit back down. When we arrived at the zoo, the driver kept my daughter beside her until I got off the bus. Then, in front of students, parents, and teachers, she publicly criticized my daughter and me. I politely responded that I would talk to my daughter about following the bus rules, but instead of accepting my response, the driver raised her voice and continued speaking to me in a disrespectful manner.
What upset me the most was being publicly humiliated in front of everyone. The driver then told me I would not be allowed to ride the bus back home and that I would need to find another way home. She later repeated this to the teachers. This completely ruined what should have been a happy day with my daughter.
The driver's behavior seemed unusually hostile and unpredictable throughout the trip, which raised serious concerns for me about how students were being treated. My concern is based on her actions and the effect they had on the children, not just on my family.
My daughter was deeply affected by the experience. When we got home, she told her father how scared she was of the driver and said she does not want to go on another field trip because of how frightened she felt.
As a parent, I believe children should feel safe and respected during school activities. Unfortunately, this experience was the opposite. I also felt singled out and disrespected. I contacted the transportation company after the trip but never received a response.
I hope this feedback encourages better training, professionalism, and accountability so that no other child or parent has to experience what we did.
