The Blind Leading the Stupid

Chicagoist took Driver's Ed class our sophomore year, even though we wouldn't be able to drive for another year (we were young for our grade). However, there was the real possibility and later attempt to take the driving portion as soon as we were able to secure a temporary permit. Fair enough.

However, in another stunning display of sad management, Chicago Public Schools requires all sophomores to take Driver's Ed -- even the ones who are blind and will never drive. Whaa? 2006_03driversed.jpg

Yep, an article in the Trib today lays it all out. Here's the best part: Remember all the gruesome videos they'd show us in an attempt to scare us from being crazy, reckless, stupid young drivers? Well, apparently they are still showing these...to blind kids. Double whaa??

They expect the kids to take the class, but don't really have materials in Braille or anything. Not only could the kids be taking some other academic class, but as one student puts it, "In other classes, you don't really feel different because you can do the work other people do," said [Mayra] Ramirez, 16. "But in driver's ed, it does give us the feeling we're different. In a way, it brought me down, because it reminds me of something I can't do."

Awesome. Bring those blind kids down a notch. Remind them that they're NOT the same as all of us and they'll never drive!

To say the least, we're stymied.

Image via Huron Valley Schools website.

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Comments (9) [rss]

Regardless of what CPS "requires" I would hope that the teachers and principal would not make the blind students take a drivers ed class. That's just plain stupid.

One-size-fits-all bureaucracy at its best...

I doubt that teachers in the CPS have any choice about who takes the class. I'm surprised that the union hasn't complained or used this as a bargaining tool.

This idiocy is not limited to CPS- I went to high school in the NW burbs, and had a blind classmate who was forced to take drivers ed. As in, would not have been allowed to graduate if she hadn't taken the class. I've been telling that story for years, and people always think I'm kidding. I'm really not.

Anyone else scarred that the kid in the photo is old enough to drive? Or did I just confirm my status as an old man in asking the question?

'scarred.' i love that. i hope you really meant scarred and not scared.

i picked the photo cause the kid had a big smile, yet looked kind of clueless.

is THAT wrong?

Jocelyn, the photo is a great find. The only thing that would make it better would be if the girl in the back seat had a look of terror on her face.

That kid looks a lot like my cousin. He recently got his license and was in an accident that totaled his mom's car. Everybody was okay.

You guys are the 31457 best, thanks so much for the help.

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