Andrew reported on his drivers ed class: the kids are supposed to remind their instructor, when they first go out driving, that he is supposed to show them a cow.
You see, people need to know what cattle are, so that they can recognize a cattle crossing. One of the students in the class reminded Mr Fischer that, uhhhh...., they live in Wisconsin [hello!!!] and they know what cows look like [duh!!!]. Mr Fischer agreed, but said that the government does not recognize that the kids know what a cow looks like, and it is incumbent upon him to teach them. So he will comply with the government's rule. But there are important things to teach a kid in drivers ed: braking, turning, driving defensively, checking your mirrors, etc. With all those silly distractions, the teacher isn't sure he can remember to point out cows. So he told the kids to be sure to remind him. Wouldn't want to neglect government regulations, now, would we?
I think the ideal response from the kids would be to get out in the country (after their first lesson or two of driving around and around and around a city block) and point to a cow and say, "Look, teacher, a camel!" or "Oh, Mr Fischer, there's an elephant!" And then he can TEACH them, "No, dear student with a head full of mush, that is a COW."
Just think. The same government is in charge of the entire public-education system. Makes ya wonder....
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This would be funny if it weren't serious.
ReplyDeleteScratching my head in wonder that anything gets taught with so many regulations in the way.
Wow. A cow. In Wisconsin, no less.
ReplyDelete"Students, that is a squirrel."
"Yes, Jimmy, that *is* a train, very good!"
Is this the elder or younger Mr Fischer? Driver's Ed was such a great experience for me- I hope Andrew likes it, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought that Wisconsin was full of elephants and camels- those were cows all along?
(the cow thing must be new- I didn't get any speech about "what are cows")
Mr Fischer the elder. I'm hoping to get Andrew driving soon, thinking that Mr Fischer is bored until school gets over for the spring and will maybe be teaching behind-the-wheel himself. At least I can hope that's the case (especially after Paul's experience)!
ReplyDeleteMakes me wish we could homeschool driver's ed, too.
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteI really think the appropriate response would be to get out in the country and ONLY have the students remind the teacher that he had to show them a cow when they are REALLY next to a pasture full of steers or bulls.... but that's just my sick rancher humor coming through! LOL!!!!
Tonight we asked the drivers ed instructor about this cow thing. I told him that Rachel felt gypped because he hadn't taught her what a cow was. He said the law had changed. He was told by the State that he must teach the kids "what to do with domestic livestock." When he asked the govt, "In other words, you want me to tell them what to do about cows??" the answer was "yes." I asked, "What to DO about cows? What, like, milk them?" He said, "Don't hit them when they're in the road." Ahhhh. Helpful govt to give us these instructions! I'm sure Andrew could never have figured out on his own that he ought not to hit an animal bigger than his vehicle.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if in SD and WY if they teach you what a bison is?
ReplyDeleteMan I had a pretty tame driver's ed in IL.
I suspect that in SD and WY they have more respect for the citizens' awareness of large mammals, their names, and the danger of smashing into them....
ReplyDelete