Why doesn’t MCPS offer Drivers Ed in high schools?

[Anonymous]

The swimming lessons thread got me thinking about why MCPS does not offer Drivers Ed as a HS elective. I used to teach in Jefferson County WV and the HS offered drivers ed through the PE department. Essentially it was used to put athletic coaches in classrooms as full employees rather than stipend employees.

Was it ever offered in MCPS? I graduated here in 2002 and we didn’t have it as an option back then

[Anonymous]

My apologies I didnt know there was a old thread on this topic when i made this thread. Mods please lock this if you would prefer discussion in the other thread

[Anonymous]

Mods don't like when people pull up old threads. But most usual topics have been covered even if it was years ago. Good to revive the discussion to try to bring back Driver's Ed to MCPS.

[Anonymous]

It’s probably a liability issue for schools. Plus, not all families have access to cars for such classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably a liability issue for schools. Plus, not all families have access to cars for such classes.

Typically a car is provided for students to practice with the Driver's Ed teacher in the car. It was around in the 90s in another part of the country. A huge time saver for parents.

[Anonymous]

Montgomery College offers it. The other schools are private companies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The swimming lessons thread got me thinking about why MCPS does not offer Drivers Ed as a HS elective. I used to teach in Jefferson County WV and the HS offered drivers ed through the PE department. Essentially it was used to put athletic coaches in classrooms as full employees rather than stipend employees.

Was it ever offered in MCPS? I graduated here in 2002 and we didn’t have it as an option back then

They used to have it until the 90s

[Anonymous]

MC offers it. They used to but few kids took it as its doing classes for a week vs. semester.

[Anonymous]

I am so highly annoyed about this. It costs $500 and they can't get their license without it. It's such a cash grab and a way for BOE to save money on this very basic life skill. This should absolutely be offered at schools for all of the students like it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My apologies I didnt know there was a old thread on this topic when i made this thread. Mods please lock this if you would prefer discussion in the other thread

His name is Jeff. Welcome to DCUM!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-moms-of-washington-need-this-man/2015/06/26/83cbe092-0eed-11e5-9726-49d6fa26a8c6_story.html

[Anonymous]

You don't need that many hours of instruction to learn to drive a car, though most people around here have much less, if any at all. It's crazy that we learn how to drive at 15 and then never take another lesson again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so highly annoyed about this. It costs $500 and they can't get their license without it. It's such a cash grab and a way for BOE to save money on this very basic life skill. This should absolutely be offered at schools for all of the students like it used to be.

Let me guess you are wealthy and are complaining over $500. Simple solution is your kids don't have to drive. Or, they can get a job at 15 and pay for the class. MCPS isn't about teaching life skills, that's a parents job.

[Anonymous]

I took it in HS. I graduated MCPS in 1990.

[Anonymous]

They offered it in my MCPS high school in the late 1980s/early 1990s. But they stopped for the system in the later 90s, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need that many hours of instruction to learn to drive a car, though most people around here have much less, if any at all. It's crazy that we learn how to drive at 15 and then never take another lesson again.

I took Driver's Ed at school back in the 80s. It was a one semester class that covered the in-class portion, then we drove in "simulators" one day per week and one day per week in cars. The combined time spent attending Drivers Ed and the practice time needed in car could absolutely be provided at school. This would be a much better use than a second semester of health.