Choosing a Driving Course at Homer High School
Alex Levitskiy and Kennedy George
Many high schoolers are either preparing to start driving, or experiencing being a new driver. For most of us, driving is the most dangerous thing we will do in our lives, so it is important that we are smart and cautious while we are on the road. Here at Homer High School, there are several options when it comes to driver’s education. Two of those options are the Teen Drivers Safety Course and the summer Driver’s Ed program. In order to park on school grounds, one must take at least one of these courses. But for some, it may be difficult to choose which course to take; there are many pros and cons towards taking each course. So, in order to help students decide which option will work best for them while still properly preparing them for the road, members of the Olympian will give you a closer look into each class.
Perspective #1:
I took the Driver’s Ed class that is offered over the summer. It lasts for multiple weeks and each class day includes a period of lecture and a period of driving. I am very glad that I chose to take this course; it increased my driving abilities tremendously. The pros of this course are that it really teaches you the rules of the road, you get driving time with an experienced driver, it lasts a while so you have time to learn, you get to listen to cool, guest speakers, and it helps you get your senior license faster. The cons of this class are it takes time away from your summer, it costs money to take it, you have to get at least an 85 in the class in order to park on school grounds, and you might have to get up early to get to class on time. Despite the cons associated with this course, I think that it is something that every driver should take. It helps you become a more competent and confident driver.
Perspective #2:
Students also have the option of taking the Homer Teen Driver Safety Online Course. Previously, this course was what many called the “five-hour course.” I was in the experimental group with the new safety course, which I got to try out for the second portion of my Alive at 25 course. The online course consists of six units in driver’s safety. Once you feel that you have mastered the units, then there is an exam that consists of multiple choice and true/false questions. As soon as you complete the online course, Mrs. Reed is notified. Plenty of useful topics are covered that will help solidify the road rules for student drivers. The pros of this online course are the convenience of being able to take it at home whenever you have time, it is now not as lengthy as the previous required courses, the information is provided in a more interactive and visual manner, and your results are sent right to Mrs. Reed so you do not need to print your results and have to take them to her. The cons are that you do not get actual driving experience nor any in-person advice from an experienced driver. Also, you must get at least an 85% on the test to be granted parking permissions. The online course is perfect for a comfortable driver who wishes to efficiently meet the requirements.
Hopefully, these two accounts will aid you in your decision on how to approach being able to park at the school. There are many pros and cons to each course, so we suggest assessing your personal situation and determining what you are capable of and what you need in order to become a safe and responsible driver.
