Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507140054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Gov. George Allen's "pass-to-drive" proposal is a double-edged sword that might work if it has flexibility, says one of the students who would be affected by it.
The plan would make teens study harder, but it could be unfair to dedicated students who struggle academically, says Damon Patterson, 15, a junior at William Fleming High School in Roanoke.
"I think it would motivate students, but they ought to consider things other than just test scores for some students," Patterson said Thursday.
Allen is considering a proposal to deny driver's licenses to high school students who fail new state standardized tests in math, science, English and social studies.
"One thing that is a motivating factor for teen-agers ... in high school is getting those wheels," Allen said this week.
If his administration determines that the proposal is legal and practical, Allen said, he will submit legislation during the next General Assembly session.
In cases where students have a history of academic difficulty in a particular subject, Patterson said, students' work habits and teacher recommendations could be considered if they failed the standardized test.
"I think it's a good idea up to a point, but some students honestly have trouble with certain subjects even though they study hard," said Keith Foster, 15, a junior at Patrick Henry High School. "You would need some exceptions."
Several other high school students in a driver education class in Roanoke said Thursday that Allen's proposal to link driving privileges to academic performance has merit, although some had reservations about it.
Raymond Hegyi said Allen's idea might help keep some poorly educated teen-agers from driving.
"I think it's a good idea. There are a lot of idiots on the road. They don't understand and obey the laws," said Hegyi, 17, a senior at William Fleming High.
By requiring students to pass rigorous standardized tests before they can get a license, he said, "you will keep some people off the road who shouldn't be driving."
Kaila Thompson, a junior at William Fleming, said the requirement might screen out teen-agers who might make irresponsible drivers.
"Kids who mess up in the classroom are also likely to mess up at other places," she said, including on the highways.
Hegyi said Allen's proposal will make students take the new standardized tests more seriously. "If their driver's licenses are riding on the tests, they'll try to do better on them," he said.
Students do not always take standardized tests seriously, he said. "They say the tests are not important and joke about them."
Thompson, 16, agreed with Allen's philosophy.
"I think it would motivate students who look forward to getting their driver's license," said Thompson.
"If you can study for a test to get your learner's permit, you can study for more important subjects if you know that you've got to do good to get a license," she said.
Melissa Chiou, a junior at William Fleming, said students would be more conscientious about their studies if they knew they could be denied a driver's license because of poor test scores.
Chiou, 16, said she thinks students should be allowed to retake the tests if they fail on the first try.
Some students said Allen's proposal might put more pressure on students taking the standardized tests and cause them to perform poorly.
"It could be too much pressure for some people, but different people deal with pressure in different ways," said Hegyi.
"You don't want to put too much pressure on students. That could make them do worse," said Patterson.
Virginia apparently is the first state to consider linking teen-age driving privileges to academic performance.
Virginia and at least a dozen other states deny driver's licenses to students who drop out of school or skip too many classes. But none denies licenses on the basis of grades or tests, according to the Education Commission for the States.
The state Board of Education recently adopted revised standards in math, science, English and social studies. The state plans to administer statewide assessments of students' performance beginning in 1997. No tests or grading scales have been developed.
Allen, a Republican who has advocated higher academic standards to improve public education, said the pass-to-drive plan is part of his back-to-basics approach.
by CNB