Friday, December 4, 2009
Alumni vs. Alumnus (Alum)
Can someone tell me why every college sticker or license plate uses the word "alumni"? As I understand it alumni is plural, so it refers to the graduates of the university. Why then do we use this term to indicate that we graduated from university A? I have a sticker from the Alumni Association on my car. That seems to make sense "The Alumni Association" encompassing all the graduates of the school. My question I guess is what do the stickers and plates mean. Are they expressing "I am an alumni" or is it "I am a member of the alumni"? What do you think?
Friday, October 16, 2009
Driver's Education
Today I had the privilege of watching a young couple spend 35 minutes today changing a tire. After someone pointed out the damsel in distress, a 20 something female in a cute little dress, I went over and offered to help her out. The front drivers side tire is flat, and she is on her cell phone frantically talking with someone. I was told "no, someone is on their way, thanks." Hey I'm not going to insist, but I was interested in watching who would show up and what would happen.
The "someone" showed up in a large Chevy truck. I thought, "ok, she'll be fine." That didn't stop me from starting my stopwatch the second he opened the trunk. I was amazed when I looked over 20 minutes later and realized that they hadn't even gotten the wheel off yet. What I did see was that the girl had changed clothes and was doing it herself, while the "someone" stood over her with his hands in his pockets. I wanted to think that maybe he was teaching her how to change her own tire. Alas it wasn't what ws going on at all. The "someone" apparently had no clue and the girl had read the instructions in the owner's manual and began yelling at the "someone" that he ws doing it all wrong. Thats how she ended up struggling with the jack under the car while sitting on the pavement in the parking lot next to the pool. After 35 minutes and a little help from a passing jogger to loosen one of the lug nuts the spare doughnut was on and they were on their way.
This made me think...
What do we teach our kids? I'm sure some of you know how to change your own tire, but how did you learn that? Most of us learn the first time you get a flat tire. I remember my dad telling me that the special wrench to remove the hubcaps was in the glove box, and good luck. But shouldn't this be taught as one of those life lessons? Those things you WILL use later in life, unlike the Pythagorean theorem, or that Queen Elizabeth I was a Tudor.
So please as I know this will never be a practical test on the FCAT, spend a little time with your young drivers and teach them this life skill. This is something everyone should be taught before they started driving. At least for the reason of not having to rely on someone else to help them.
The "someone" showed up in a large Chevy truck. I thought, "ok, she'll be fine." That didn't stop me from starting my stopwatch the second he opened the trunk. I was amazed when I looked over 20 minutes later and realized that they hadn't even gotten the wheel off yet. What I did see was that the girl had changed clothes and was doing it herself, while the "someone" stood over her with his hands in his pockets. I wanted to think that maybe he was teaching her how to change her own tire. Alas it wasn't what ws going on at all. The "someone" apparently had no clue and the girl had read the instructions in the owner's manual and began yelling at the "someone" that he ws doing it all wrong. Thats how she ended up struggling with the jack under the car while sitting on the pavement in the parking lot next to the pool. After 35 minutes and a little help from a passing jogger to loosen one of the lug nuts the spare doughnut was on and they were on their way.
This made me think...
What do we teach our kids? I'm sure some of you know how to change your own tire, but how did you learn that? Most of us learn the first time you get a flat tire. I remember my dad telling me that the special wrench to remove the hubcaps was in the glove box, and good luck. But shouldn't this be taught as one of those life lessons? Those things you WILL use later in life, unlike the Pythagorean theorem, or that Queen Elizabeth I was a Tudor.
So please as I know this will never be a practical test on the FCAT, spend a little time with your young drivers and teach them this life skill. This is something everyone should be taught before they started driving. At least for the reason of not having to rely on someone else to help them.
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