h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am appalled that in every state in the USA wearing a seat belt while riding in a moving vehicle is required by law--unless you are a child riding on a public school bus. Does this seem odd to anyone except me? Our children, the earth's most precious natural resource, do not wear seat belts on school buses. In fact, school buses do not have seat belts UNLESS you are the driver.
As a mother and a public school teacher, I have asked many administrators why school children riding school buses are the only human beings who are exempt from the seat belt requirement. The single resounding reason has been lack of funds. Apparently books, buildings, salaries, supplies, etc. take precedence over the safety of our children. In addition, my students have told me that often the children have to stand up on the bus or sit on the floor in order to squeeze more children in and save even money on buses and bus drivers. Fights often occur on school buses when overcrowding causes claustrophobic responses and words and fists fly. A single adult who has the responsibility to drive a school bus and manage sixty or so children at the same time has an overwhelming responsibility. Let's at least give each child a safe and secure place on the bus with his/her own space.
It seems to me that if even one life is spared because the child was wearing a seatbelt, then the money was well-spent. Buildings, books, lab supplies, etc. are all necessary expenditures for school districts, but we must all ask ourselves how money-smart we're actually being if we continue to allow school districts to risk our children's lives and physical well-being.