Wait till the ACLU hears about this....

Lee County schools want to prohibit middle schoolers from driving to school.

School children in some grades don’t just look older than students a decade ago.
They are older.

Lee County is adding a clause to its 2006-07 Code of Conduct that bans middle-schoolers from driving to school.

As of May 25 — the last day of the school year — 67 middle- schoolers had celebrated their Sweet 16. Six of them closed the year at 17, while one 19-year-old seventh-grader was sitting in the Lee County Jail.

What does that 7th grader say when in jail when asked what he does for a living?

Students typically turn 16 during their sophomore year of high school, but Lee County and other Florida districts are holding back more students whose reading skills fall below state or federal standards.

Last summer, Lee retained 5,243 students — 7.1 percent of the district’s total enrollment.

Middle and high schools will start to see an influx of students who are at least a year or two older than their classmates.

If mom and dad are willing, all 16-year-olds in Florida can get behind the wheel. So Lee secondary school consultant Herb Wiseman said the district is nipping the
prospect of middle-school drivers in the bud, putting a prohibition into writing.

That ban doesn’t extend outside of school hours, though.

Of course it don't This doesn't need being said. I would think repsonsible parents would withhold car priviliges and have their children concentrate on their schoolwork. Then again that is just me.

*****

Wiseman said three middle-school parents asked for permission this year for their children to drive to school. Their requests were denied.

Age issues also have shown up in area high schools. Unlike some school districts, such as Collier County for example, Lee does not have a board policy setting an age limit for students. Lee assigns newcomers who are overage to the district’s adult-education program, but current students can continue plugging along with their education as long as they are making progress.

At the end of May, Lee reported 480 high-schoolers were 19 years old, 147 had turned 20, another 105 reached their 21st birthday and 30 were 22-year-olds. About half of the older high-school students are enrolled in the district’s migrant-education program.

While the older students can still obtain an education, the Florida High School Athletic Association won’t allow anyone to compete in sports after reaching 19 years, 9 months.

*****

The trend of having older students on campus poses two concerns, Lee schools Superintendent James Browder said.

Safety is always an issue when students have more life experiences or a higher level of maturity than their classmates. At the middle-school level, the other issue is outside the school building.

I'd agree with that statement. Egads I'm in agreement with two former knucklehed winners! Where is the iodine?

The new policy I feel is within the district's right. I wouldn't rule out somebody challenging it in court however. Good luck Lee County.

Open Post- Bright & Early, Third World County,