Driving Lessons For The Jungle
Education went digital many moons ago. Kids look down upon teachers because they have more followers than them, the prime minister or the Pope. That does not change the fact that education, or learning is hands-on, human to human.
Kids in Europe, Canada, U.S. and Australia look forward to their first car. In fact they demand it from parents, as if it’s necessary like the air we breathe.
Digital superiority over parents deceives kids that they don’t need them for anything. It’s all online. That’s all they need to pass the learner driver’s test. Parents should ignore the bravado and take them for a walk. No car. Just ten toes around the block.
Cars on the right, zoom by while cars on the left wait patiently. Why dad? This is so boring. Because of road signs Einstein. The road is a jungle. All the beasts want to zoom by. They are in a hurry to go somewhere not important.
Stop signs, one-way streets, speed limits are all part of the jungle. Drivers are conceited bastards but they don’t want to die, so they obey the red, amber and green robots. Teens should learn about them on the street, not as passengers in the family car.
The more father and daughter stand on that street corner and watch cars interacting with each other, the more she understands that driving is not about the steering wheel, but more about living together on the road. No ego allowed, otherwise they’ll be a pile-up with all egos dead.
Nonqaba waka Msimang
Blogger Without Borders
Comments