I was initially concerned about Bus Radio and the concept as a whole, but I looked at their website and after doing some research and snooping around at what they have posted online, I don't see anything wrong with what they are doing. The music they play is clean, it's nothing that I wouldn't allow my kids to listen too. And as far as commercial advertising, my kids know better then to come home screaming about wanting the latest toy or gadget. The commercials seem no worse than anything else they see or hear on TV. As little kids, they were allowed to listen to the radio in the car on the drive to school. So if a kids radio station is now available on buses, I say go for it. Let them enjoy themselves. I don't see a need to shield my child from things such as commercials. I'd rather spend my time protecting them from the dangers of drug or alcohol abuse. There are far worse things in this world than a commercial for a video game.
I've actually looked at this pretty closely, and -- while I don't know if it's right for your school/district -- I do feel strongly that this product/service is getting a really unfair rap in the press.
Almost all of the media I've seen on it has been painting Bus Radio as a really bad example of commercialism targeting our kids. And i think that's really misguided in this case.
The facts are that something like 60% of buses already play radios. But those buses typically play commercial, over-the-air stations. Those stations certainly have commercials and -- much worse -- almost all of those stations have music and all kinds of in-between-the-music banter that's highly questionable for kids. Whereas the Bus Radio station is 100% rated-OK music and "banter" that's appropriate for kids. Might be inane/nonsense, but it's not about who Paris Hilton is sleeping with or all kinds of sexual innuendo.
Other thing that's never written is that the Bus Radio system (which is installed completely for free) also includes a button where the bus driver can choose to play regular radio and also includes a button that makes a distress call to local police (and includes a GPS connection for finding the bus). Bus drivers don't have to play the bus radio station (or any station) if they don't want to.
OK, off my high horse.... I just think that grouping this offering with other services where the questions are much more legitimate is wrong.
Not sure if that answered your question. When you get past the hyperbole of the critics and look at the actual offering and what districts actually need to agree to (not much) there's not a lot of downside at all.
Does anyone have any input or opinion on Bus Radio? It is a closed circut radio system that is installed on the school buses. Currently we do not have any radios on our school buses. Our school committee was informed about the Bus Radio and we have mixed fellings about the system. From the little research done, there wasn't a lot of positive feedback. So,being one of the PTO Co-chairs, I thought I would put it out to you folks, I love this web site and find it very informative. Any info would be appreciated!
