Dear Fellow Elementary School Parent:
We would all like to teach our children how to be responsible, to follow the rules and to have a sense of order. I realize this is a difficult concept for you, particularly the part about following the rules. After all, I see you every morning not following the rules, parking along the red-colored curb to wait for your child after school, or simply blocking traffic to let your child in or out, with no regard to the people behind you.
However, I feel I must reach out to you at this time for your child's sake. See, if you teach your children that it is okay to break basic traffic laws for your own convenience, then that is a lesson they will learn and apply in other parts of their life. This is school and they do learn things at school, but those things are not limited to what happens inside the classroom.
I know we are already 115 days into the school year (or so my daughter tells me) and that the 2009-2010 school year is running out, but now would be as good a time as any to start following the rules.
Here are some suggestions to things I would like for you to stop doing:
* A red curb means that you can't stop there for any reason, particularly the one that leads into the entrance of the school's parking lot. God forbid, but if something were to happen and an ambulance needed to get to somewhere quickly, chances are they'd need to stop there since it is right in front of the school and all. Anyway, as long as you continue to park there, I'm going to continue taking my time in entering the school at your inconvenience. Yeah, I could probably have scooted my truck up a little to let you out the other day, but I didn't. I would apologize for it but I'm not sorry about it at all.
* When there is a line of cars behind you, don't stop in the middle of the street to let your children out. Oh, you are in a hurry? Well, I guess since none of us behind you are in any more of a hurry it's okay... actually, I take that back. I don't care if your house is burning down. Do you know how dangerous it is for your children to get out like that, especially that little girl who looked smaller than my four-year-old?
* Just because there are a lot of cars lined up to go inside the parking lot doesn't give you the right to zoom past the line of cars, particularly after school. Children aren't always the most aware, and they tend to dart out into the street sometimes.
* We're both pulling into the same parking lot, cars coming in from the other direction. No need to cut me off, and don't give me a dirty look either. It's called taking turns.
In closing, I hope you - the irresponsible parent - were not too upset that the California Highway Patrol had two units out there in front of the school this morning, particularly you, Mrs. Ford Explorer. Oooh, I would NOT have liked to have been you. That officer did not look very happy when he was pointing at you, and the flashing lights and siren and all on his motorcycle, well, that must have just made things more uncomfortable for you, much like the money you will have to fork over for your moment of impatience.
I don't feel sorry for you, though, and none of the other similarly irresponsible parents who were ticketed this morning. After all, if you didn't break the fucking rules in the first place, none of that would have happened.
Sincerely,
A Safe Driver
11 comments:
California could correct their deficit just by citing crappy drivers :) People who ditch the rules at a school or anywhere for that matter and then end up killing someone and then sit boo hooing in court....just no words for that.
If I didn't know better, I'd say that your kids go to the same elementary school that my daughter goes to. It's the same scenario every morning and afternoon; rude people who block crosswalks, park in "no parking" areas, block the driveway to drop their kids off, I could go on and on. A fender bender happened right in front of me (I was parked) on Monday morning. Some people are so inconsiderate of others.
Same things happening at my daughter's school. Drives me nuts (pun intended). Poor kids having to grow up with an inconsiderate slob of a parent. Oooooh I'm so glad Mrs. SUV got her just desserts!
You know, I actually called a 1-800 number on the side of a Heating and Air van who swerved into my lane and cut me off! I reported his arse. van#24! I was in a cranky mood to begin with and he really pi$$ed me off! (did I just type that?)
I would love for a week to be a cop. Just think of all the tickets I could give out.
Of course, I bet most of the people would drive better if they knew I was a cop. So I need to find a way to keep driving my car but have the authority to ticket all the irresponsible jerks who drive.
Well done. I should do the Indiana version. Mine would be about respect toward others. Just got an email from my 3rd grader's teacher. The kids have been very disrespectful in the classroom. Teacher had us all sign contracts, agreeing to the new expectations (or consequences for not meeting them), and I'm certain the real reason for all of that was to get us to take note of our own behavior out in society in front of our kids, and own some responsibility for why the kids are getting more and more obnoxious.
And I'm sure the parents who don't get that are the same ones who thought the contract business was all BS, and nobody's gonna put THEIR kid in detention for rolling his eyes...etc.
Okay, so it's not just here that people drive like crap around schools, especially at drop-off/pick-up times. We live kitty-corner from a public school and the things I have seen drivers do is astonishing. And I have to say that the school buses aren't much better.
I love this post and I agree with every single word! Some people are so damn self-centered! Thanks for saying what I often think :)
This irritates the crap out of me every morning. I also hate when people zoom down the road the school is on, at 50 miles per hour, when there are kids walking everywhere!
This is an issue at our school, too, since people park in the drop-off lane (think airport) all the freakin time. I get so angry; I've started dropping Aiven off early to school to avoid dealing with it!
You should submit this to your local paper...we all should!!! I think there are irresponsible, inconsiderate, ignorant drivers at every school in America, from the sound of things.
I'm thinking like an editorial piece or a letter to the editor or something.
At Tacha's school, there are actually parents who stop on one street to let their 3rd and 4th graders out at a staircase that leads up to street #2 where the buses are stopping to unload kiddos. 2 streets to cross WITH cars and buses. Not to mention that traffic backs up waiting for the kids to exit the cars anyway. I'm just holding my breath for the day that some jackass in a hurry hits one of the little ones there.
Hey, Luis, this is Mr. Willoughby! After reading this post, I realise our kids must go to the same school. I have actually threated other parents and blocked them in with my truck when I take our daughter to school. I guess I don't have the same restraint that you have! I really enjoyed reading your blog and had to comment. Truer words have never been spoken!
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