Perry Meridian High School - Passages Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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Faleoiis Drive To vard Ftitiire Drivers ' education was a very im- portant and educational course for m4ny of the students enrolled. The course taught students many things from defensive driving and safety to insuring and maintenance. There were many benefits in taking this course. Drivers ' education has much influence on the future of our roads and highways, so it was very good for students. Even if they can drive, they should take it, said Mr. Ber- tram, one of the drivers ' education instructors. To enroU in the course, students had to be at least fifteen years of age. After enrolling, students had to get a Learner ' s Permit, obtainable after taking an eye test at nearby license branches. Most of the students were sophomores although some fresh- men and upperclassmen enrolled. Mr. Bertram stated that the number of students enrolled during the school year was about the same as the year before, but the number of students enrolled during the summer had increased. The reason for the in- ' creased summer enrollment was that many of the student ' s schedules were filled up during the school year. While other driver education students sat inside studying driving techniques and skills, three students were taken outside during each period to practice the rules of the road. Shawna Chaplin ' 85 said, I liked drivers ' ed. because it gave me a chance to get out of a classroom. Many specialized tests were given to students enrolled in drivers ' educa- tion. Written tests from chapters in the books as well as driving tests were taken. Drivers were tested first in the parking lot, then on country roads, and finally on interstate highways. They took us onto the in- terstate about four or five driving days after drivers ' ed. started, said Vicki Henson ' 85. I felt confident that I could drive on the interstate at any time. Near the end of the semester, students were required to take a 20 minute driving test. After taking the test, they were required to list all of the mistakes they had dur- ing the trip and what their major strengths and weaknesses were while driving. Students learned much about social driving, defensive driving, and safety. Besides learning how to drive, students learned about the make of cars and how to buy them. Mainten- ance, repairing, and the parts of a car were other important things the students learned. Drivers ' education benefits students in many ways. Students seemed to have much more con- fidence in themselves after com- pleting the course. Insurance rates were reduced for students passing the course. The majority of the students were glad that they enrolled in the course because passing it enabled them to skip the driving part of the test when they went to get their licenses. I am anxious to get my license, said Barry Bowers ' 85. It wiU allow me more freedom to do the things I enjoy. DRIVERS EDUCATION 141

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While Vic Coe ' 86, Scott Gary ' 86, and Troy Martin ' 86 wait for their directions, the instructor prepares to grade them on their 20-minute driving test. With key in hand, Vic Coe ' 86 waits for his Instructor to begin another test in driving. Students learn from films In drivers ' education. 140 DRIVERS EDUCATION

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Eiiglish Isn t Foreign Auymore The English department at Ferry Meridian tried to make English more familiar to those students who thought it was as hard to imderstand as if it were foreign. Some students thought that EngUsh was just a language, but at Perry, Enghsh was a way of life, a way of expressing oneself. The English department was in- volved with many projects. The dramatics classes had a professional actress, KatlmTi Walsh, come in and discuss her point of view on the Shakespearean play As You Like It , in which she acted. There were more activities associated with writing, such as participating in national and local writing contests. The social comment classes saw a Martin Luther King film and wrote essays for the Black history contest. The jour- ■ nalism classes wrote creative work on various topics, such as radio broadcasting. Students wrote a dialogue, recorded themselves, and played it back, and it seems like a real broadcast. New equipment was used to fur- ther develop the department. In- troductory speech classes videotaped 20 minute broadcasts with a videotape machine. The school pur- chased a 16nmi camera with which Mrs. Gloria Sam ' s and Mrs. Wanda Strange ' s film study students made a class film. Students in these two classes experienced what it was like to be on the set. Mr. Craig Potter goes over punctuation skills with Greg HoUen ' 86 on an English 3 composition concerning aspects of life in the United States. 142 ENGLISH