|
Editorial: Don’t let students drive off campus at lunch
Saturday, May 10, 2008
For high school students lucky enough to have cars, it is a rite of spring (and probably any other season as well) to zip off campus for lunch at the local pizza parlor or hamburger stand, then back in time for their next class. For safety, environmental and truancy reasons, this is not a great idea, and schools with open-campus policies should prohibit it. For one thing, it gives students with cars one more excuse to drive them to school. The more of them who do, the more problems it creates for traffic and parking in the neighborhood. Wherever possible, students should be encouraged to take school buses, or — if they’re close enough — to walk. Not only better for them, better for the environment and better for gas supplies. School lunch periods are fairly brief, so students who plan on getting anyplace and back within the allotted time can’t dawdle. It’s one thing if they’re on foot, but if they’re compelled to make time behind the wheel, the consequences can be tragic. A story in Tuesday’s New York Times detailed incidents of fatal lunchtime accidents involving students in three Long Island school districts since 2005. In all three districts, campuses were either closed immediately after the accidents or students were prohibited from using their cars to leave campus at lunch. In some suburban districts, that’s tantamount to closing the campus — not particularly appreciated by nearby restaurateurs — but in urban ones, it’s not unusual to find fast-food places within easy walking distance. As a result of the problem, a Long Island assemblyman has proposed a law that would prohibit students statewide from driving during school lunch periods. While such a ban is a good idea, the issue would best be left up to individual school districts.
comments
|
Advertisement
|
October 11, 2008
8:05 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Nisky allows kids to drive to school as a senior. Others drive and park at St James Square. The coming and going of the students at the high school should give the district pause. If an accident where to occur- the district is responsible? If anything were to happen in the car- an attack, drinking etc school is again responsible?
5:20 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Considering the fact that teenage drivers are the ones most likely to be involved in an accident it seems as though there should be very compelling reasons for schools to allow a student to drive to school at all.
Maybe they should set the criteria: If they have a legitimate job, if they keep good grades, if they have taken driver training. Any infraction of the rules should rescind driver privileges.
Just because they have a beater car and enough money for gas is not a good reason to let them take this risk. A risk which would ultimately come back on the school district should something happen to the student and his or her passengers.
7:14 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
What a joke, arbitrarily take more rights away from people (students). If it's ok with the parent(s) who is the school to say what a student can do? Can teachers,janitors and other staff drive off campus for lunch? Schools should worry more about the people they are paying. Students should have a parking permits and if they are caught breaking traffic rules by school security then be dealt with. Some days I drop my son off at Mohonasen/Draper and the way the parents drive is a sight to see. They form their own lanes and let their kids out of the vehicle right in front of other vehicles. This all goes on while staff and school police are right outside.I fear its only a matter of time before something bad happens. Schools need to concentrate more on problems as a whole then always looking to unfairly police the students.