One of the biggest milestones of being a teenager is getting a driver’s license — it’s a symbol of freedom and of finally being old enough to do something without the help of parents. However, getting a driver’s license is more than just a perk — to many, it is considered a skill needed for everyday life, especially for students who have jobs or siblings who need a ride. Despite this, the number of teen drivers has been decreasing over the years — according to a study by the University of Michigan, two of the three major causes of a decline in teenage driving include time constraints and cost.
Instead of being seen as a skill necessary for transportation, which is essential in today’s day and age, taking time outside of studying and other extracurricular activities can be seen as another responsibility, which can be stress-inducing. According to Section 5 of the California Constitution Article IX, students are allowed to receive free driving training from their public high school, but only if the school district offers it. There are many benefits to implementing a driving course — for one, it can alleviate the financial burden of having to pay for a driving school or instructors. In California, students must complete a minimum of six hours with a driving educator, which normally costs between $350 to $650 and can put extra pressure on those who need to pay the cost themselves.
Additionally, pressure from schoolwork and college applications may get in the way of students’ driver’s education: according to Eden Prairie Local News, one college student, who kept his identity anonymous, stated that even if there wasn’t a pandemic, they would have delayed their driver’s education due to college applications. MVHS students taking a heavy course load or in the middle of the college application process may push aside essential skills such as driving, and implementing a driver’s education course at MVHS would ensure that they do not need to carve extra time out to attend driving school or take lessons.
If MVHS offers a driver’s education that takes place in a classroom setting rather than making students take an online course outside of school, students will have time to manage their extracurriculars along with learning fundamental driving skills that are beneficial for their future. Additionally, a school-provided course would be free of cost and an easy elective credit.
Online courses generally don’t assure that students will retain the information taught due to the vast information covered and no way to truly verify students are knowledgeable on a majority of the information — not just the common questions found on the permit test. In comparison, taking driver’s ed in a classroom setting allows students to receive a more comprehensive understanding of the subject as a result of greater teacher support, allowing for better drivers and safer streets.
With the decline in teenage drivers over the years, we must incorporate a driver’s education course into the MVHS curriculum to help encourage more students to learn these skills early on. As seniors graduate each year, several students move away from home, making driving a skill that guarantees them mobility wherever they go.
By bringing driver’s ed into the classroom, we can ensure that young drivers are more confident and safer on the road, which benefits the entire community. It’s time to shift gears and steer teenagers toward independence and responsibility with the support and guidance they need. Let’s make driver’s education an option and a valuable part of our high school experience.
