Saturday I spent the day in a DIC (i.e., Driver Improvement Clinic) created for the DMV by the DDI (Defensive Driving Institute) not because of a DUI or DWI or even a DWD (i.e, Driving While Drowsy – thought you might need a little help on that one), but because a DDL (i.e., some Dumbass Driving Lately). I bet I went almost 15 years without a violation of any kind. In the last 2 years, I have had 4 violations, so Saturday found me in an all day class to earn a few “good driving” points.

            The instructor thought that he was quite the card and had a constant barrage of one liners, inside jokes and asides that bombed. Maybe the real joke was on us and how good a living the instructor was making. There were about 40 people in the class at $ 55 a pop. Materials probably cost him a maximum $ 2 per attendee. The meeting room at the local hotel was probably had for less than $ 200. In these days of outservicing, I bet his licensing fees to DMV are minimal. In the right market, this could be a 6 figure business for 1 day of work a week. Talk about part time employment!

            Early on I knew I needed to just gut it out. If the instructor was a bore, it was my fault. I was there due to my own actions and no one else’s. Lunch finally came and when I returned I knew I was halfway through. At a little bit after 4, we finally finished the workbook and I knew I was looking at the finish line.

 

            At this point, the instructor decided to give a little discourse about his teaching style; and while it might not be for everyone, he hoped he reached everyone in some matter and that they took something from the class. I certainly took that I didn’t want to spend another Saturday like this ever again. From the other side of the room, a woman raised her hand. When recognized, she informed the group that she was a teacher and she found the instructor’s style demeaning to the students. A 5 minute interchange ensued between the instructor and the teacher. At one point, another participant chimed in with the comment, he was also a teacher and found the instructor’s style of teaching demeaning. Then it happened, the woman teacher walked out of the room. She left the class. Only about 40 minutes of confinement left and she leaves.

 

            Now, here’s the real question. Do you want this woman teaching your children? Who walks out and when you know the only outcome from your action will be spending another Saturday enduring what you have already endured? What in the world does this woman teach that she didn’t recognize the despotic situation she was in or know she’d have a comment sheet on which to vent all her frustrations? Who walks out of a class and leaves her purse? Yeah, she left her purse. And since she didn’t return to the classroom immediately to claim her purse, I’ve got to assume her car keys weren’t in her purse. And if the keys were in the purse ….. now, we’re into a whole thing about pride. Hey, maybe I learned more than I thought Saturday.