The School Bus Uncles...

 28 September 2025

Today, as I sat looking out of the window of the public bus on my way home, I suddenly thought of the school bus uncle drivers I used to interact closely with , when I was working in the school as a Special Needs Teacher many, many years back.

Two of them are deeply etched in my memory.

One day as I went to the Macritchie Reservoir to cry over some dis-heartening matters, a middle-aged tanned and lanky uncle called out to me and spoke in a friendly manner as if he had known me for ages. 

I was pondering who he was...

He mentioned about some students in the school and then I realized he was the driver of a school bus of some of my students I sent off during dismissal. I had to pretend that I knew him, if not we both would be embarrassed - that was what I was thinking then - while trying to "camouflage" tears he didn't catch, streaking down my face, by pretending to rub the itchy corners of my eyes.

It must have been a weekend, or a school holiday or else I couldn't be there, alone to cry my heart out, in the morning.

He went on cheerfully explaining that he's taking a walk in the park, in contrast to what he would do previously over the years - run - as he'd been ordered by his doctor not to, due to a heart issue.

So we both were here for a common reason - matters of the heart.

He shared that while he's on the break after sending the children off to school in the morning, he would park the school bus in the carpark and make his runs. After he's done, he would drive to school and fetch the children during dismissal. Now he couldn't do so anymore and he really missed running. I quietly listened, and appreciated that he could recognize me amongst so many teachers, sending the kids up the bus, though I couldn't recognize him.

He went on to share one funny anecdote that I would remember till now.

There was once he was caught in a super heavy downpour, and he'd no chance of running back to the school bus. He needed to get to the nearest exit point and ran to the nearest bus stop outside the trail. His habit was to run, shirtless.

So he was topless when he boarded the public bus and out of no choice he had to endure the stares and funny looks he received from the driver and fellow passengers, as he had to take this bus to retrieve his bus. We both burst out laughing.

We then had a little chit-chat before he continued his walk, while I, continued to ruminate... but already feeling much better after this surprise encounter with the school bus uncle.

Till today, I remember him and the funny anecdote, which sometimes I would share with others.

Since then, whenever we chanced upon each other in school during dismissal or when he needed to use the toilet in the school building and saw me, we would smile and greet each other and asked if we'd gone walking or running :)

Not long after, I resigned and left that special school.

I hope this school bus uncle is well and healthy :) And perhaps one day I should go run around Macritchie trail to recollect this fond memory of being recognised by another - who seemed insignificant then, but whom I appreciate a lot today :)

Another Uncle is someone who always needed to go to the toilet every time he got down the bus. This was from another special school I worked in.

Sometimes he would have a bad day and would start "complaining" about my student to me, whenever he saw me before rushing to the toilet. My boy had some behavioural issues and sometimes his anxiety could get the better of him when he took the bus. Most times however Uncle was all smiles as he trotted his way to the toilet. He was a much older uncle who often wore a cap. I saw how grey his hair was, on those days he had not put on a cap.

To be honest, it is not easy to be the "uncle driver", especially fetching children with special needs. Sometimes it could be quite dangerous when a child, or more get into some behaviours in the bus that may affect safe driving. That is why there must be an attendant in the bus.

However this does not guarantee a smooth journey. Many times these attendants had difficulties managing the behaviours of the children and sometimes their responses could even trigger the child more. Most of these attendants could not adequately communicate to the children as well.

It is no easy job as they could be highly stressed while conducting their duties, at the same time held accountable should any incident occur during the travel.

I miss interacting with these "colleagues" and it felt good to be recognized and remembered by them. They may seem insignificant workers alongside the "professionals" in school. But interestingly these are the people I enjoy talking and connecting with more, as they offer entirely different perspectives from my counterparts in the classrooms and other special rooms.

I sincerely wish that all of them are well and happy in their own lives! 

Till we meet one another again! 😊