Learning Lessons the Hard Way
Tonight I got my first ticket in a very long time. Chattanooga has built some roundabouts on heavily traveled roads in town. While some people find them tricky, after five years in England they are second nature to me.
In case you don’t know, a roundabout is not just a song by the quintessential 70’s rock group, Yes. It is a circle created at an intersection. Everyone approaching the intersection looks to their left. If no one is coming, then you have the right-of-way, and you can cruise on through the roundabout. If someone is coming to your left, then you must yield until the road is clear again. It sure beats having to stop at stop signs on every street corner!
Anyway, tonight I went through a roundabout. No one was coming to my left, but there was a policeman to my right. No problem, right? I have the right-of-way and he must yield. So why did I suddenly see spiraling blue lights in my rear view mirror?
When I pulled over, I asked the nice man what I did wrong. He said I failed to yield. When I explained what I knew about roundabouts, he said there had been an accident a day there. That really didn’t answer my question, so I mentioned that I didn’t think I should have to yield if there was no one coming from my left. It didn’t really matter how many times I asked, no answer was satisfying. Instead, I got a court date.
As I drove away somewhat flustered, I wondered how many times I had answered students unsatisfactorily because I didn’t really get the question. How many kids have left my class wondering what they did wrong? How many wondered why I couldn’t answer their question? How many did I dismiss because I wear a teacher’s badge and control the blue lights of my room?
I will fight the ticket. But there is just a bit of uneasiness in the pit of my stomach about my own classroom.
February 9th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Sorry to hear about your ticket. In Louisiana we call them traffic circles. I used to love driving them in Alexandria as a teen. Although too many times around will get you dizzy!
Bravo on the epiphany. So often I find myself answering a student and then stating that I must not understand their question if I am not answering thier question. I try to rephrase their question and ask them if that is what they are asking. I read a book on Empathic Listening years ago that I still try to use.
Anyway, I agree with your choice to fight the ticket! Good luck!
March 29th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I am sorry about the ticket…I hope you got your day in court!
I second the “bravo” on the epiphany. I know there have been many times I did not understand the question and I to have the same uneasiness in the pit of my stomach about my own classroom.
I hope all is going well for you. It seems like years since we were in DC!