Driving Lessons For Gillingham School 6th Formers During Free Periods.
34 Comments
E
Emily Harris
8 years ago
Featured
As a parent of a sixth former I do not believe that taking one or two free periods a week in order to learn to drive would be detrimental to their school education.
Finding times available to learn becomes very difficult especiallly during the winter months.
T
Toby Wilson-Barker
8 years ago
A schools purpose is to best equip all of its students for a life after. Access to transportation is the single most important factor in an individual's ability to escape poverty.
Especially in Gillingham's case most students travel from areas of such low density that public transportation, for the purpose of commuting, is non-existent. Many of the roads are often to busy or not well enough maintained for cycling to be a viable option. A decrease in the availability of driving lessons will inevitably lead to a decrease in the standard of young drivers, increasing congestion and making roads in this area less safe. The increase in prices could also mean that the less affluent students see the costs involved as prohibitive leading them to instead investing whatever money they do have in clothes or the local night life. I feel this combined with the mental toll, of under/unemployment brought about by this decision, could work to increase the the divide in our communities that the school should be deeply committed to reducing.
I do not believe that this policy has a negative impact on the education of the students as those who apply themselves heavily to out of lesson study would do this at home out of school hours, and those less keen often do not use the study periods to study anyway. In this way these lessons have no effect on the education they receive.
Is trading the potential of minor changes in academic grades worth the much more real challenges of a growing wealth and motivation divide in our local communities?
N
Nick smith
8 years ago
Such a shame as learning to drive a car is one of the biggest life skills that we gain.
G
Geraldine
8 years ago
The younger you are, the easier it is to learn.
J
Jeanette Smith
8 years ago
Featured
I believe driving lessons are now a necessary part of the education process as many jobs require applicants to have a driving licence. This is particularly true in rural areas such as Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. I believe driving lessons are a good use of free and occassional study time.
B
Becky Hull
8 years ago
All 6th formers should be allowed to have driving lessons during free periods so if they want to get a driving job after school they can because they are learning to drive.
P
Paula Loxton
8 years ago
My girls had driving lessons in school time when they were at Gillingham. Stopping lessons in their free lessons just makes it harder for students and instructors to fit in lessons. Students will have the lessons if they want to learn to drive, it has to come out of their free time at some point - if it's in the school day they do homework later. I'm guessing who ever came up.with this idea has never had teenagers who need to learn to drive.
R
Rachel Keirle
8 years ago
My son is about to turn 17 and I didn't know he won't be able to have driving lessons during free periods.
S
Simon West
8 years ago
It was an integral part of my process in learning to drive. Educational and very useful in later life in job hunting
D
Diana Scott-Owen
8 years ago
Would like to know why the school is objecting to these lessons as sound so sensible?
J
Jenny Rose
8 years ago
Featured
My 17 year old son would like to learn to drive, but the best instructors are all booked up out of school hours (and lessons then are often more expensive). Allowing driving lessons in free periods would spread the demand for lessons, making life easier for students and instructors and would let students use their time wisely.
J
Julian Clapham
8 years ago
The students at this educational establishment are young adults who are not legally obliged to be there. Sadly a school based 6th form often has difficulty differentiating between this set of circumstances and those by which it's schoolchildren are governed. This kind of insidious control really is beyond the pail and does nothing to encourage the personal growth or development of those subjugated by it. I can cite no examples of 6th form colleges where this kind of behaviour on the part of the administrators would be considered appropriate or acceptable. Perhaps if said administrators can demonstrate otherwise then their stance might be considered more tenable? I wonder if they will have the good grace to respond to each individual opposing view on it's merits, rather than constructing a suitable rhetoric to bulldoze their decision through all opposing views?
C
Cheryl ellis
8 years ago
I think this is a great idea & should of been done ages ago!
C
Chris Price
8 years ago
Featured
As a parent of a 17 year old 6th former and also a driving instructor, I wholeheartedly agree with this petition as it helps to develop these young adults for the future.
As a parent of a sixth former I do not believe that taking one or two free periods a week in order to learn to drive would be detrimental to their school education. Finding times available to learn becomes very difficult especiallly during the winter months.
A schools purpose is to best equip all of its students for a life after. Access to transportation is the single most important factor in an individual's ability to escape poverty. Especially in Gillingham's case most students travel from areas of such low density that public transportation, for the purpose of commuting, is non-existent. Many of the roads are often to busy or not well enough maintained for cycling to be a viable option. A decrease in the availability of driving lessons will inevitably lead to a decrease in the standard of young drivers, increasing congestion and making roads in this area less safe. The increase in prices could also mean that the less affluent students see the costs involved as prohibitive leading them to instead investing whatever money they do have in clothes or the local night life. I feel this combined with the mental toll, of under/unemployment brought about by this decision, could work to increase the the divide in our communities that the school should be deeply committed to reducing. I do not believe that this policy has a negative impact on the education of the students as those who apply themselves heavily to out of lesson study would do this at home out of school hours, and those less keen often do not use the study periods to study anyway. In this way these lessons have no effect on the education they receive. Is trading the potential of minor changes in academic grades worth the much more real challenges of a growing wealth and motivation divide in our local communities?
Such a shame as learning to drive a car is one of the biggest life skills that we gain.
The younger you are, the easier it is to learn.
I believe driving lessons are now a necessary part of the education process as many jobs require applicants to have a driving licence. This is particularly true in rural areas such as Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. I believe driving lessons are a good use of free and occassional study time.
All 6th formers should be allowed to have driving lessons during free periods so if they want to get a driving job after school they can because they are learning to drive.
My girls had driving lessons in school time when they were at Gillingham. Stopping lessons in their free lessons just makes it harder for students and instructors to fit in lessons. Students will have the lessons if they want to learn to drive, it has to come out of their free time at some point - if it's in the school day they do homework later. I'm guessing who ever came up.with this idea has never had teenagers who need to learn to drive.
My son is about to turn 17 and I didn't know he won't be able to have driving lessons during free periods.
It was an integral part of my process in learning to drive. Educational and very useful in later life in job hunting
Would like to know why the school is objecting to these lessons as sound so sensible?
My 17 year old son would like to learn to drive, but the best instructors are all booked up out of school hours (and lessons then are often more expensive). Allowing driving lessons in free periods would spread the demand for lessons, making life easier for students and instructors and would let students use their time wisely.
The students at this educational establishment are young adults who are not legally obliged to be there. Sadly a school based 6th form often has difficulty differentiating between this set of circumstances and those by which it's schoolchildren are governed. This kind of insidious control really is beyond the pail and does nothing to encourage the personal growth or development of those subjugated by it. I can cite no examples of 6th form colleges where this kind of behaviour on the part of the administrators would be considered appropriate or acceptable. Perhaps if said administrators can demonstrate otherwise then their stance might be considered more tenable? I wonder if they will have the good grace to respond to each individual opposing view on it's merits, rather than constructing a suitable rhetoric to bulldoze their decision through all opposing views?
I think this is a great idea & should of been done ages ago!
As a parent of a 17 year old 6th former and also a driving instructor, I wholeheartedly agree with this petition as it helps to develop these young adults for the future.