Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-10-27
RURAL SCHOOL KIDS ENJOY
FASTER, SAFER BUS SERVICE

which daily transports 10000
Mississippi rural school children to
and from classes has come a long
way both in miles and in safety
and efficiency since free transpor-
tation was provided children of the
state back in 1910.
During the 1949-50 school year
total of 4l54 school buses trans
ported approximately 100000
passengers over 21.L00. 600 miles
of Mississippi roads without cas-
ualty.
First and foremost consideration
OF the transportation program adj
ministered by the Education De-
ing and transportation is safety
For the past six years. driver
training schools have been held
throughout the state and have
been voluntarily attended by 65
per cent of all drivers operating
within the state. In addition. the
division. headed by T. II. Naylor.
has encouraged the replacement of
old wooden type equipment by
=
protect the young cargo they carry.
We attribute our safetJ re-
cord Naylor says, Ito drivers
that are carefully selected and well
trained, and to good safe equip
ment properly maintained and SUI
pervised.
Transportation for h o
children at public expense was in
troduced in 1910 with the consol-
idation of rural schools to provide
better educational facilities to
children in outlying areas. In the
decade that followed this move.
interest in education and demand
for high school facilities within
reach of every girl and boy became
evident.
But even as late as 1943 Missis-
sippi school transportation facili-
ties were woefully inefficient and
dangerous. At that time total of
1852 buses were Transporting
13S.100 children to school daily.
or an average of 35 children per
bus. Only 637 of these vehicles
were all-steel buses. 1915 Of which
were wooden bodies, of which
2237 were homemade.
In other words only one-siXth of
the children in the state were rid
ing to school in safe buses, yet the
cost was over 100000 annual
ly. Mississippi, according to re-
port prepared by the education de-
partment, had the poorest trans
portatiOn service of any state at
that time. and yet was spending
more money per child per month
than any other southern state"
But the legislature of 1914
made a move TO remedy this situa-
tion by authorizing counties TO
purchase and operate buses of
their own.
Today 1897 counties and school
districts own 1897 steel buses, 100
own steel bodies and privately
owned chassis, while !only 937
steel buses are owned by private
operators. The 1855 remaining
buses, which are rapidly being re-
placed, are of more ancient vim
tage and operated by private con-
tractors.
The manner in which school au-
thorities took to the legislative
action is the fact that today II of
the 50 counties in the state have
gone into public ownership of
school buses, at least to some de-
gree. Several counties own and
operate all their buses.
Naylor points out that public
owned buses in most counties are
proving to be not only more eco
nomical but also more satisfactory
to operate"
For instance, the average cost
{ per child per school year for pub
licly-owned equipment in 1949-50
amounted to S21.62, compared to
a cost of $27.06 per child for pri-
vately operated vehicles. This saw
ings. school authorities believe,
could be utilized for improved in