As an educator with 30 years experience in your neighboring State of Indiana, I was delighted to see that Illinois is still interested in teaching practical knowledge courses to the students of their state.
The state legislature in Indiana, in its infinite wisdom, dropped the funding for driver education for public schools in the late ’80s and the schools were left on their own to sink or swim in the instruction of this very valuable lifetime skill.
Many school systems just dropped the courses and left a void that has been somewhat filled by private schools with money as their most important motive for existence and classes being taught by teachers without an education background.
Since the decision to shelve the state’s responsibility for educating high school students to drive, the number of teenage deaths in auto accidents has increased in most surveys and statistics I have seen.
Think there is any correlation?
My school system decided the need was still there and has offered the courses in summer school since the state’s decision to abolish driver education.
As an instructor my pay was cut in half and we lost several very dedicated teachers who realized the stress was not worth the cut in pay.
Yes, west suburban biology teacher quoted in the Jan. 25 story, I said stress. If you don’t feel stress in teaching 15- and 16-year-olds how to drive safely and effectively, you must not be doing a complete job.
Families are now paying $200 to $300 to educate their teenagers to drive correctly in the public schools in Indiana (more in private schools).
During the regular school year I teach applied physics and pre-engineering courses and realize that my students in those courses are receiving very valuable information for their futures.
I still get the most satisfaction as an educator, however, by teaching teenagers to take on the responsibility that most parents feel uncomfortable giving them: the knowledge and skill to drive a vehicle in a safe and efficient manner.
Keep up the good work Illinois citizens.
Don’t let your legislature decide not to educate your teenagers just because of an article highlighting the money that these very deserving educators make.
