Every person under 18 years of age in MA with hopes of one day getting on the road with a license of their own must take the drivers Ed program, but why? What is it like? Well, when Mr. David Jacobs of the HHS driver’s Ed program was asked these questions, he described the program as “A very student oriented program that focuses on the individual success of the student more than any other privately owned company he’s ever worked with… Students can form relationships with their instructors because they only have one the whole time. Instructors are very experienced, and some are even bus drivers at HHS, which is the best kind of person to learn from.”
During these courses, students learn all about the rules of the road, all the road signs, and the dos and don’ts of driving. Students also get personal one-on-one driving hours with an instructor after passing the modules. The goal of driver’s education at HHS is not just to prepare students for a little quiz to get a permit, with everything to soon be forgotten. Rather, it is to teach them lifelong information that will keep students and other drivers safe and out of trouble on the road. HHS sophomore Padraig Nugent said, “Drivers Ed was time consuming, but it was actually very worth it. I learned everything on the permit test, and I still remember most of the information long after taking it. I pretty much knew exactly what to do when I got behind the wheel for the first time.” The program does this by using techniques like physical application of knowledge on the road with an instructor or spreading out information into modules to make sure the students know everything there is to know on the various driving subjects.
“What if I’m nervous to take the course and fail or mess up?” Do not be. Hingham high’s program is focused on making sure the information is easily consumable. When asked what he would tell a nervous student, Hingham High School sophomore William Pollenz replied, “at first, I was a little nervous too. Thoughts of failure and messing up occurred, but as soon as I got there it was made clear that the program wants to see the students succeed. The instructors are also very forgiving, little things like a rolling stop or knocking over a cone were not a big deal, but rather a quick and easy learning experience that I still remember.”
Students can also take three different kinds of classes tailored to their personal preference. There’s class after school on Monday and Thursday from 3:00-5:00, for fifteen sessions with one module covered per session. Or if they prefer to get it over with quickly, they can choose the accelerated option, which runs for five Saturdays, and covers three modules per day. The session goes on from 8:30-3:00. And breaks are given in between each session, along with a lunch break. Finally, there are the summer sessions, which occupy one week during the summer! They run from 8:30-3:00 Monday-Friday.
