Originally Posted June 6 2012 to FB

Thoughts strike you at the strangest times. Or they don't. Life's funny that way. As i travel, it's sometimes frightening to see all the times that thoughts aren't striking people. Usually this results in them NEEDing to be struck with a clue-by-four, or even a baseball bat.

Just today, for instance, I observed an individual driving in the left lane of a multi-lane highway who suddenly decided "ohmygodthisismyexit" and without looking, swept across three lanes of traffic into the painted median at the end of the exit lane ) where the lane actually physically separates from the rest of the highway, just to be clear(. 

Once there, he got half way onto the actual deceleration lane when he decided "oh. Wrong exit." whereupon he tried to re-enter the flow of traffic still on the highway, which passing him at 65mph. Unfortunately, there was a big, black truck, driven by a big, angry-red, ANNOYED trucker in the way.

Since the driver didn't actually come to a stop (unlike the truck driver), things kept happening to him. Like, oh.. road signs, litter, and a curb.

I may have to clean up the gear that flew all over the inside of my cab, but he gets to explain to his insurance company why the front of his pickup is such a mess.

Now, I told you that story so I could tell you this one.

Ok, I just wanted to steal that like from Arlo Guthrie. I like it.

But I did want to use that example to suggest that there is something seriously wrong with our educational system.

I know, I know. You've heard me start on this before. I think, though, I've taken it farther than most. It's not a matter of teacher:student ratios, or money, or (mostly) books.

It's more basic. Look at what we colloquially call primary education: "The Three R's"

Yeah. Reading, Writing, and Arithmatic. Ok, there ARE three r's in there. But it's pretty darn easy to see what's messing up our yougsters. Oh, sure, we try to pass it off as a bit of a play,insisting the three R's refer to "Reading "Riting, and 'Rithmatic". 

Most kids I know aren't dumb enough to swallow that one.

I suggest we completely revamp the system. Sure, still teach the Three R's. But get it right, for a change.

Three R's: Red. Right. Returning

No place like the world's waterways to teach a person that actions have consequences