This Time I Really AM Sorry

It was my sixth period class.  Their names were Keisha and Danielle.  Lovely girls, but to save their lives or the lives of their loved ones, they could NEVER. STOP. TALKING.

Since then I have learned about the power of proximity control and a good offense being the best defense, but I have also learned, in another lesson from my car, that there are kids who are going to talk no matter what.  And I know this, because I am going to speed.  No Matter What.

It's not that I hold any disrespectful for the law or authority, and it's not that I don't think that speed limits are a good idea (and that they are meant to save lives), it's just that, in the words of Ricky Bobby, I just wanna go fast.

You can tell me to stop speeding.  I will listen.  At least at first.  This thing is, I don't mean to do it most of the time.  I don't speed because I'm late; I just get distracted.  Or excited.  Or bored.

You can punish me.  I will feel it.  I have been pulled over about 50 times.  Ok, more than 50, but only like 51.  And not just for speeding.  I get pulled over for other traffic violations.  None of them are angry and most of them aren't even on purpose.  And none of them stopped me from doing it again.

Did you know you can pay a fee and then NOT get pulled over for 6 months and they will erase the record of getting the ticket?  Actually, you can get pulled over during that 6 months, you just can't get a ticket.  I know that for sure because the first time I did the 6 month probation thing, I got pulled over before my 6 months were up.  Twice.  But I didn't get a ticket either time.  So I am on my second 6 months for another ticket (which you can't do more than once in a 2 year period... unless it's close, and then you can, and I know because mine were like 16 months apart. And I did.)

You know what does work? Gentle, constant reminding and proximity control. When I see a cop I think speed and I check mine.  Even if I am not speeding.  I have been conditioned to do this.  My bestie, who is the best at gentle reminders, will say, "watch your speed" as often as I need it.  Without judgement and without threats.  I don't know if it annoys her but it doesn't annoy me.  I know I need constant reminding. 

Students don't talk during your lesson because they hate you.  They talk because they are excited, bored, distracted--all the reasons I speed.  They know it's wrong, and yes, even dangerous (talking during a fire drill always gets the "What if... and you couldn't hear because you were talking" speech). Walk over to them, lay a hand on their chair, their desk, their back.  Remind them, as Harry Wong would say, of the procedures everyday if you have to, of where they are, of what they are (supposed to be) doing. Be their bestie. Remind them without judgement, without threats.  Those don't work.  You can threaten to take my license away but I know if that happened all I have to do is not get caught driving (which, in all honesty, would be a GREAT motivator...) And I don't say that as a dare.  I say that because it's the truth. People drive every day on suspended licenses (I may have... Twice.))

Every time I get pulled over I am sorry and I didn't mean to.  When kids say that, they are telling the truth.  Instead of punishing, teach.  Help them learn to self-regulate.  Pavlov didn't threaten or beat the dog.  Teach them to condition themselves.  Before they become adults and breaking the rules costs actual money.  And points on your license.  Whatever that means.  

Maks, 6 Speed Manual, Turbo, 268 HP