Davagator
03-13-2006, 12:35 PM
CHICAGO -- Mayra Ramirez thinks driver's ed is a waste of time.
And in her case, it is. She's blind.
But the 16-year-old and dozens of other visually-impaired sophomores are required to pass a written rules-of-the-road exam to graduate from Chicago schools.
Ramirez said she does the same work that the sighted students do in other classes. But driver's ed -- in her words -- "brought me down, because it reminds me of something I can't do."
Hundreds of Illinois school districts require students to pass the class, although the state only requires districts to offer it.
A spokeswoman for the state Board of Education tells the Chicago Tribune, "It defies logic to require blind students to take this course."
A Chicago Public Schools spokesman said he "can't explain why up to this point no one has raised the issue." He said parents of disabled children can legally ask to change the student's curriculum.
And in her case, it is. She's blind.
But the 16-year-old and dozens of other visually-impaired sophomores are required to pass a written rules-of-the-road exam to graduate from Chicago schools.
Ramirez said she does the same work that the sighted students do in other classes. But driver's ed -- in her words -- "brought me down, because it reminds me of something I can't do."
Hundreds of Illinois school districts require students to pass the class, although the state only requires districts to offer it.
A spokeswoman for the state Board of Education tells the Chicago Tribune, "It defies logic to require blind students to take this course."
A Chicago Public Schools spokesman said he "can't explain why up to this point no one has raised the issue." He said parents of disabled children can legally ask to change the student's curriculum.