Harford County, Maryland – An experienced school bus driver was recently terminated from her position after she allowed a student on her route to exit the bus to rescue an injured kitten. According to sources, Cynthia Morgan, who drives a bus for students at the North Harford Elementary School, was fired because of safety concerns stemming from the incident.
A video recording shows low traffic on the rural road where the 10-year-old child, Alex, went to secure the kitten. As reported by the Baltimore Sun, the student held the kitten on his lap until the bus arrived at the school.
Morgan is known as a caring, attentive bus driver, who has gifted students school supplies, Christmas presents, birthday cards and more. Parents who know Morgan think that she should have been given a short suspension, not a permanent termination.
A parent tells CBS, “We just feel the way that it was handled was not appropriate. We feel that termination was a little excessive, an overreaction by the Department of Transportation through HCPS. I think it could have been handled in a lot of other ways.”
A Change.org petition asking for Morgan to be reinstated to her position has garnered over 11,400 signatures.
Where do you stand? Was this an act of compassion for an injured kitten or was it a reckless move by a bus driver who should have known better. Feel free to weigh in below in the comment section.
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51 Comments
Cynthia Morgan is a hero!!! Punish that evil bus company for firing her! These cruel people should be ashamed!!
If the child ran across a major roadway, this would be grounds for termination. If the child wasn’t in danger and she saved the kitten’s life, it’s a great lesson in humanity, either way the punishment was excessive for a much loved bus driver
I think the firing was asinine! She allowed the little boy to safely get off the bus and rescue the kitten which shows compassion. It was a great example for the other children and she get rewarded with firing. What a stupid decision.!
Even the parents have sided with the bus driver. I hope they reconsider this decision and offer her the job back.
I stand with the bus driver. I was a bus driver at one time & had a similar situation. I was the one that got off the bus after an oncoming car hit a kitten in the street. I put on my flashers & put out the stop sign & then got off the bus to retrieve the kitten. After I got the kids to school and returned the bus, I took the kitten to my vet. Unfortunately, he was so badly injured that they had to euthanize him. My superiors hassled me over it. I told them I would do it again if such a situation arose again. Unforeseen events sometimes call for action that may not follow protocol. I’ll take compassion over correct procedure every time.
THERE ARE SO FEW STORIES OF EMPATHY SHOWN BY BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN THAT IT IT SHOULDN’T ASTOUND ME THAT WE NOW PENALIZE IT. I AM FIRMLY IN THE SUPPORT OF THE BUS DRIVER WHO THOUGHT IT BEST FOR THAT CHILD TO EXERCISE HUMANITY IN THE SAVING OF THE KITTEN. THAT CHILD WILL BE A BETTER PERSON AS A RESULT. TO PENALIZE THE BUS DRIVER IS AN OVER-REACTION OF THE WORST OF BUREAUCRACY. AND MY SINCERE THANKS TO BOTH THE CHILD AND THE THE BUS DRIVER.
When is showing compassion a crime? What negatives are you teaching this young child in condemning this act of charity? At the very least, the mother should petition the school board about this horrendous display of demonstrating this complete lack of empathy and the bus driver applauded.