TEACHING MOMENTS

Any of us may, by our actions, create a teaching moment. Therefore, we should consider actions that are not good lessons and perhaps choose not to do them.

If we are considered to have some authority on the subject about to be taught, we are even more responsible for possibly teaching by bad example.

On a recent Sunday morning, a driver was observed in such a situation. In a vehicle with a very prominent sign on the side that announced, “Driving Instruction,” he was not wearing his seat belt (shame, shame) and was tipping his head and his coffee back for a drink, while at the same time, he started a right turn on to

University from Allen Street. Fortunately, traffic was light. Opposing traffic had a red light and there was no oncoming traffic to take advantage of the left turn signal to threaten his turn. He did not confuse his arms and tip his steering wheel while turning his cup. He didn't spill coffee on himself as he accelerated. There were no driving students to behold his distracted driving moment.

Though there were no immediate repercussions, this driving instructor has made a very bad teaching moment. May he never do this, again, and so avoid a disastrous teaching moment.

Carl Mathis, Charlottetown