Taking the Short Bus

Taking place in and out of the city of Philadelphia, between the years of 1974-75, Taking the Short Bus - Teacher, I Need You - is a comedy/drama about eighteen-year-old Eric Blum's trials and tribulations from dyslexia and an emotional breakdown after his brother was killed in Vietnam in 1969, and his anticipation from graduating from Noah Webster Preparatory. A school in the suburbs of Cheltenham Pennsylvania for special needs. Only if he can prove to the school authorities and his psychologist -Dr. Goldman- that he is emotionally, and academically capable to file back into society. To prove himself worthy for graduation, Eric finds himself after school jobs either as an usher at a movie theater, spinning records at local dances for a locally famous disc-jockey or working with the changeover crew at the Philadelphia Spectrum. Eric finds himself madly in love with his history teacher - Carole Schor - and things get too close for comfort, willing to leave his family and friends for her. Carole tries to explain to Eric numerous of times that she sees him in only two ways, as his teacher and a trusted friend outside of school. Private schools for special needs don't always agree with the teaching philosophies of public schools or the excuses of ADD or ADHD but accept the fact that some people just think outside the box, no matter what color or size school bus they traveled on. Those kids who rode in that short yellow bus should not have to be ashamed or embarrassed. And those people who tormented them should realize these children weren't "retarded".