Wanted to hear more about students thoughts on the Start Smart program being made mandatory? Below are more student interviews taken by staff writers Kianna Eberle, Taylor Reese Knudson, Kira Elliot, Kira Gaby, Ty Gibson, Nicholas King, Joey Kobara, Sarah Kochanek, Tacy Manis, Katherine McPherson, Olivia Mock, Alexa Risen, Aaron Steger, and Sierra Zounes.
“I think it is dumb and shouldn’t happen because we already have our licenses,” said junior Eric Rumble.
“I feel like this shouldn’t be mandatory. Having one driving class isn’t going to fix our driving. Getting a license is good enough for a parking permit. I don’t think it will be effective because its two hours out of our lives, and most of us won’t be paying attention anyways,” said sophomore Emma Karp.
“I don’t like it because I don’t know why they’re putting it in place now, but if it’s safer it’s worth it,” said sophomore Tania Wu. “I don’t think [students will] take it into perspective so it won’t be as effective.”
“I wouldn’t want to go, but it might come in handy,” said sophomore Katherine Duncan. “Some people would just ignore it and not pay attention. But other people would pay attention”
“I don’t want to go, it’s unnecessary because I’m already going be taking driving lessons,” said sophomore Emily Fountain. However, Fountain says “Maybe the class could scare [students] into driving more carefully.”
“It’s a good idea in general but having it mandatory will be an extreme waste of students’ valuable time . . . and making it mandatory seems extremely unfair because it will be hard to get a parking permit because if you have a job you’re not just going to leave your job,” said freshman Jackson Wagner.
“It should only be mandatory for students with points on their record,” said junior DJ Swan. “Kids would pretend to listen but wouldn’t”
“I went to it, I thought it was good. It was very informative and straight-forward,” said sophomore Noelle O’Mahony.
“I think that it is a great idea. It makes people realize what can potentially happen while driving,” said freshman Nigel Gross. “For some it will be [effective] but for others it won’t. The others will continue their bad driving habits even after the class.”
“I think that it’s good, but it’s just an extra thing,” said sophomore Julian Dennis. “I mean, kids… it’s not going to affect kids that much since they’re probably just going to sit through it [the class] and get handed their permit.”
“Well it sounds like a good idea,” said Allison Thompson. However, she feels it will not be effective.
“It would only be effective on the teens that went there with an open mind,” said junior Emily Falkner.
“I think that it is good, but no one will want to take it because most people get that information in driver’s ed. It’s another class telling them what they already know,” said junior Hannah Lafond. “[It will] probably [be effective for] younger people or [for those] who just got their license.”
“I think it’s a good thing but I don’t think most students will want to take the class,” said junior Alyssa Espinoza.
“It can’t hurt. It’s only two hours. But at the same time, it’s unnecessary,” said freshman Ryan Walsh. “I don’t think kids would take it seriously. If they’re that bad of a driver, they wouldn’t have passed the driver’s test.”
“I’m indifferent but I agree with it more than I disagree,” said junior Collin Smith.
“Well, I ride my bike to school so I really don’t care. As long as they don’t make me take a bike safety class,” said freshman John Brick. “This will just cause outrage among students.”
“I really don’t care because I live a mile away. But, I would feel safer in the lot because now, most students drive stupid,” said freshman Jacob Gonzalez. “I don’t think it would be effective because it’s not that people don’t know how to drive, it’s that they drive stupid.”