My Sentence

My sentence would look something like this:

He brought a Driver's Ed program to a school that needed it, and started a revolution in the way people relate college preparatory and Driver's Ed.

(Not) Final Post: Where Am I?

So this is the final blog. I don’t mean final as in last, but instead final as in “this is my Senior Seminar Final.” I haven’t needed any more information on the classes and the state laws, so the next thing for me to tackle is the logistics. Specifically, I mean the cost and the legislature. I plan on my panel members helping me with that aspect. I plan on inviting Dr. Ray Griffin, because he has actually done this kind of thing before. He has started a Driver’s Ed program at another private school, so he has the perfect amount of experience. He’s also very good at scoring grants for the school, so he can tell me how to do it. Another panel member that I want to invite is Board of Trustees President Leon Payne. He has expressed interest in my project, and that really excites me. One member that is kind of on the fence is the state representative for my district, Armando Walle. He is in the state legislature and I believe he could really help me with the larger picture. However, he hasn’t contacted me back except for just one email so I don’t have my hopes up for him. I would also like to invite Brian Lamore. While he taught at Chinquapin, he was a genius at getting grants. I believe that his advice, coupled with Dr. Griffin’s advice, will be invaluable. Over the break, I will really have to convince Rep. Walle to join my review panel. Also, Brian Lamore has been rather quiet, so I will have to send the feelers out towards him. By January, I should be able to start applying for grants, with Dr. Griffin and Brian’s assistance. With Rep. Walle’s guidance, I can see the best way to tackle the legislature that restricts schools like mine. Mr. Payne is a valuable source of my project’s real-world application, without the influence of politics or anything like that. We’ll get things done, people.

Info You Should Know

I named the blog this because it's late (actual time: 11:55), I'm a little sleepy, I'm writing my speech, and you guys don't quite know exactly what I'm up against here. I was reading comments on my blogs. To Tito and Lorena's blogs, I say this: there is no text that follows the requirements that the DMV of Texas has. This, also, can be found on the links that I posted last time. To Susan's blogs, I say this: You actually help me blog more. The questions you ask help me inform people that haven't been reading as much as I have. To Elber's post, I say this: I plan on appealing to Dr. Griffin and the people who handle the green around here. Aside from that, the small matter of ten grand shouldn't be too hard to get. There are foundations that give money to places like us for things like this. However, none of this is going to be easy. The Man is trying to keep me down, but I must fight the power. One boy versus the system is the name of the game.

More Recent Developments

Due to a consensus of opinion, (read as: Susan) I have to tell you my sources. Although I used to say that if I told you, I'd have to kill you, this is a grade. I looked up two different sites. There was one that gave me information about teenagers receiving licenses, and another website that gave me information about starting a school for driver's ed. They were very helpful, because the Texas Education Agency knows all about that stuff. Until next time!

Recent Developments

People, I'm not going to lie to you. It's going to be difficult. I extensively researched Driver's Ed. laws in Texas, and here's what I found:
1) There is a law requiring 34 hours of Driver's Ed. to get a license
2) Driver's Ed. can be taught at a public high school or at a licensed Drivers' Ed. school
3) There are classes one has to take to be an Driver's Ed. Instructor (6 semester hours of driver and traffic safety education courses
4) It costs $75 to get a Texas Driver Education Instructor license
5) There are school application fees of $1030, a $10000 corporate surety bond which is required for each primary driver education school, and a $5000 bond which is required for each branch
Yes. It's not going to be easy. I think I'll deserve points for trying, though!

The Start of The Revolution

I would like to start a Driver’s Ed class here at Chinquapin. Many other high schools offer Driver’s Ed. I think that, as a high school itself, Chinquapin should offer these classes to be well rounded. Many students between the ages of fourteen and eighteen can drive already, anyway. These students don’t have licenses because it has become such a hassle to get them. A mandatory twenty hours of Driver’s Ed is necessary to get a license, no matter the age. Most students don’t have the time to devote to the classes. They have online classes, but credit cards or PayPal is needed. They could take the classes on weekends, but most students focus on homework, help around the house, or they have jobs on the weekends. They simply don’t have the time or the money to take the classes. Parents also figure why should they take the class if they already know how to drive? If Chinquapin were to offer Driver’s Ed classes, several birds would be killed with one stone. Illegal drivers would become legal, driving-age students would acquire licenses, and colleges would look favorably on Driver’s Ed.

School cars would be a necessity. I believe I can get them be asking a small dealership to donate a good, used car to the school. It would be a tax write-off for them, and we would get a car. We could also buy one for incredibly cheap and fix it up. This would be a good time to offer a Mechanical Shop class. Insurance for the cars would also be needed. I am currently learning the best way to get grants for the school, and I believe I wouldn’t be the only one interested in getting this program off of the ground. The last thing to get would be the instructor. In order to be a driving instructor, you must have a valid license, read English, and have taken a course given by the DMV.

I also would like a mentor along the way. I am leaning towards Dr. Ray Griffin. He is really good at getting grants for the school, and he started a Driver’s Ed class before, so I would have found a master. My second choice would be someone who would be on board with me the whole way. A little encouragement never hurts. Jeremy Duncan seems to be a forward-thinking, kind individual.