+School Permits

Every morning I wake up and go to school, I hurry to the south lot to get a parking space. There are eight places to park at Kennedy High School. South lot, for Juniors and Seniors; North lot, for Seniors with a special pass; horseshoe, for visitors’; the back lot, for teachers; the lot by the North lot, I don't know who that’s for; Lovely Lane Church for people with passes; Gospel Tabernacle, for people with passes; Towne House St, for whoever gets there first; and then there is Oakland Church, for people who can’t find a spot anywhere else. You'd think there would be enough spaces for everyone who drives to school considering there is some many parking spaces right? Wrong. I believe the reason for the parking problem is because of school permits.

I grew up in a small town in Florida. My brothers went to Belleview high school, where there was only one parking lot for students that was smaller than the south lot at Kennedy. There were never any parking problems at Belleview, why do you think that is? In Florida you are allowed to get your Learners Permit when you turn 15 years old as long as you pass a test. You could only drive with your parents and you weren’t required to take drivers ed. Drivers ed was a free class you could attend at Belleview if you wanted to. When you turn 16 years old you are allowed to get your Intermediate License, but you had to drive with the DMV and pass. In Iowa, you are allowed to get your Learners Permit at 14. If you go through drivers ed and have had your Learners Permit for at least 6 months, you can get a School Permit. This allows you to drive to and from school and school based activities. Then when you turn 16 you are allowed to get your Intermediate license.

I had to wait till I was 16 to get my license, my brothers had to wait, my parents had to wait, and everyone else I knew had to wait. If we didn't have a way to school, our parents drove us, we caught the bus, we got a ride from a friend, or we just walked. No one under 16 drove to school, those who were 16, had a space to park. 14 and 15 year olds need the same rules as I had; it would cause an insane decrease in parking issues. Seriously, walking half a mile to get to school is ridiculous when there are so many parking spaces near the school already. Find a ride; you’re too young to drive. End of story, literally.