A Broad Run High School parent has complained to the School Board about an effort to scare new teen drivers.
Melanie Bancroft said a state police officer recently volunteered his own time to talk to students and show graphic slides of car crashes. A decapitated person and a head Òsmashed like a pancakeÓ were part of the presentation. ÒThese were actual photographs,Ó she said. ÒI think that this program was being presented with the best of intentions to safeguard our children from becoming victims themselves. On the other hand É this is a mistake, an error in judgment to show such graphic pictures.Ó
She said the slide show deeply affected her daughter, who had lost a friend in a car crash.
Bancroft said she asked to see the slides, but the officer refused to show them. ÒI find it absolutely outrageous [not] to [be able to] view what É my child has seen in these slides,Ó she said. ÒI donÕt think shock therapy is the answer either.Ó
School Board member Bob Ohneiser (Broad Run) said the presentation sounded like it might have been Òover the line.Ó
Chairman John Andrews said parents should be able to have their children skip the presentation. ÒMy son started driving two weeks ago,Ó he said. ÒI would not opt out my son. I want him to be scared.Ó
--Andrea Zentz