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Driver’s ed students: Watch out for those parked cars |
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By Courtney Gran
Student Intern
“We have two goals: keep kids alive and help them pass the test.” That is the first thing drivers education instructor Keith Hollatz tells his class. These two things are the basis of the program.
Hollatz, a retired math teacher, has been involved with the drivers education program, run through Community Ed, since 2000. “I am thankful to Community Education for making this an opportunity in this school system, because not every school has it,” said Hollatz.
In order to “keep kids alive,” Hollatz teaches the 30 hour classroom portion of the program three times a year. He also instructs the six hour behind the wheel training that every student is required.
Along with Hollatz, the Caledonia Area school district has three other licensed drivers ed instructors: Scott Sorenson, Dick Hatlevig, and Jane Meisch. “The school district is very fortunate to have all four,” said Hollatz.
It seems like the instructors put a lot of time and effort into the drivers ed program, and although it is time consuming and exhausting at times, Hollatz says he isn’t going to quit any time soon.
“I was told by the people who did it before me that it was a fun thing to do with kids and I have learned that it is a good supplement to teaching,” said Hollatz. “I keep doing it because I like it. It is a nice way to deal with kids.”
Since Hollatz started in 2000, the program itself hasn’t changed any, but one thing has.
“When we started the car dealership told us to get a new car,” Hollatz recalls. “Now we get the car from a car rental or it is leased to us. We have really good cooperation from the car dealerships.”
Although Hollatz has never been in an accident with one of his students, it is more likely to be with a parked car if he is ever in one.
“There are more close calls with parked cars than moving ones,” joked Hollatz. He also says the winter time weather, such as snow and ice, have caused more problems, but overall there haven’t been too many “almost accidents.”
“With behind the wheel driving, us instuctors kind of have a standing joke, ‘boring is good,’” joked Hollatz. “Most students have already driven extensively with their parents, so they are already safe drivers when they come to us. We just work on the skills they need so they can pass the test.”
And hopefully they do pass the test, because after all, that is the goal.
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