If your kids are younger than 15 or older than 30, you may not know that Driver’s Education is done differently these days. There is no longer an option to take the course at the high school, as many of us did. You are on your own to pay for a pricey three-week course through a private company or teach your child yourself. I agree with James Herrod, who wrote in the Community Opinions section of The Dallas Morning News, "It is in our best interest to put this very valuable class back into the high schools."
Mr. Herrod describes a scene we all see every day on Skillman, Abrams, Walnut Hill, and many other busy Lake Highlands roadways — teen drivers barrelling along, one hand on the steering wheel and one on the cell phone. Many students who pass me aren’t likely to let a red light or pedestrian get in the way of a good text message.
Even if we all agree that driver’s education is important enough to warrant a semester’s worth of education, it could be difficult to fit the curriculum into the school day. The rigors of the TAKS test and the state’s new 4×4 education plan requiring four years of high school math and science force out many programs which would benefit our students. On the other hand, I can’t think of any lesson plan which would benefit them more.
