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Lisa M. Frame

Education

Drive It Home: Teen Safety Behind the Wheel

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The Allstate Foundation and the National Safety Council invited me to “The Drive It Home Show” in Greenville, SC last week to see their presentation on teen safety when driving. Since I’m going to have a teen driver soon, this is something I felt compelled to do. You see, I made it all through high school when one of our classmates was killed in a car accident that could have been prevented. Out of respect for his family, I won’t name names, but even today, I remember what it was like hearing about his death. Two years after I graduated, three of our football players died in a car accidents on the first day of school.

Did you know that about half of all teen drivers will be in a crash before they graduate high school?

In the not-too-distant future, Peanut will be driving. As I let that sink in, I’m also thinking about the grim reality of hormonal, ten-feet-tall-and-bullet-proof teens behind the wheel of a two-ton battering ram. There are so many risks for young drivers today, risks they don’t’ think about and that I am quite thankful to have grown up without.

I don’t want to sound like a Debbie Downer because I remember what it’s like the first time you pull out of the driveway with your newly minted drivers license. The sense of freedom is undeniable. I received my drivers license the day I turned 16. After I drove my Mother home from the DMV and parked in the driveway, she look at me and said “my errand running days are over” and handed me an envelope with cash and a grocery list.

She was setting expectations about responsibilities. I didn’t realize it, but that’s what was happening. If you’re going to drive, you’re going to do things to earn that privilege.

With help from Second City Communications, The Drive it Home Show, provides a funny, interactive night while they educate parents in a free, one-hour program to give them the tools so they can be a better coach for their teen drivers and understand the real hazards on the road – with the ultimate goal of keeping teens safer while driving. Experts are also on-hand to answer your teen driving questions.

The statistics about teen drivers are chilling.

In 2010, about 2,700 teens in the United States aged 16–19 were killed and almost 282,000 were treated and released from emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.1

Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

Before they graduate from high school 50% of teens ages 15-19 will be in a car accident. That’s a number we can’t ignore. As parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, godparents, etc., we have to help make a bigger effort to make safer communities by promoting safety and security behind the wheel for our young people.

That comes from us setting examples. Children learn from example and Second City Communications did an excellent job of letting parents know exactly what types of examples are being set for children. Dad was talking about how bad his driving was and enjoying the thrill of speed. Mom was distracted by her mobile phone the entire time and when they took it away, she pulled out her backup phone and then her iPad. Yet, the entire time, their daughter, “Maggie”, was trying to communicate how she needed respect for the judgment she was showing behind the wheel.

The first year of driving is the most dangerous and the #1 killer of teens.

From the beginning of time, there has always been a breakdown in communication during the teen years. It’s a given. Parents and kids generally speak two different languages. Teens feel restrained and over-structured while craving freedom and respect. This leads to a serious breakdown when discussing driving habits and time behind the wheel.

Research shows that inexperience is the No. 1 cause of teen crashes, but 74 percent of parents inaccurately believe that risk-taking is the leading cause.

What can you do as a parent when discussing safety behind the wheel?

1. Educate yourself. There are 900 thousand accidents involving teens every year.  The greatest responsibility for teen drivers comes from the parents.

2. Set an example. Don’t use your smartphone, or text in the car. We can’t tell our children not to do these things if we’re guilty of doing the same thing.

3. Spend 30 minutes a week in the car with your teen while they drive. You can see how they are developing as a driver and see what areas need work.

4. Set rules. Rules are love.

5. Don’t trust them to do the right thing.

6. Set expectations. If they can drive, they can honor your wishes.

7. Let them earn freedom and respect. It’s earned.

8. Give them the opportunity to learn. When driving with your teen, point out signs they might miss like that “no turn on red” sign.

9. Limit night driving.

10. Set goals and guidelines to help keep your kids safe.

What else can you do? Among the lifesaving recommendations and resources at driveithome.org:

  • Practice specific skills together and provide teens with feedback in the following critical areas:
  • Scanning the road ahead to recognize and respond to hazards.
  • Controlling speed, stopping, turning and following distance.
  • Judging the gap between vehicles in traffic – such as when exiting parking lots and making left-hand turns.
  • Managing the highest driving risks, such as nighttime driving and with young passengers in the car.
  • Drive at least 3o minutes each week with a newly licensed teen.

The AllState Foundation recommends teens drive at least 60 hours with a parent before graduating to solo driving. Looking back, I drove much more than 6o hours with my mother. I drove more like 5-10 hours per week for a year and even after all of that, I did some stupid stuff behind the wheel. Peanut has no idea who much driving he’ll be doing with us before he’s allowed in the car solo. I have to make sure he’s as prepared as possible and the only way I’ll know is if I’m driving with him.

Visit driveithome.org to sign up to receive weekly driving practice tips and suggestions via e-mail, and print, discuss and sign a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement.

Additionally, as a part of the program, Drive it Home is coming to cities across the country in a series of shows featuring Second City Communications. The shows take a comedic approach to the topic of teen safe driving and give local parents the chance to win a free Chevy Cruze and gas cards.  To get additional information on the dates of the tour, visit www.driveithome.org.

Drive it Home with the AllState Foundation

Resources:

Fact Sheet from the AllState Foundation

Connect with Drive it Home on Facebook

Connect with them on Twitter

Funding for Drive it Home was provided by; the National Safety Council, The Allstate Foundation, General Motors Foundation, AT&T Foundation, Toyota Foundation.

About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.

About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council (nsc.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety and prescription drug overdoses.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. 

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Thompson Kicks Off ‘March Madness for Reading’

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One of the local places in Charlotte close to my heart is Thompson Child and Family Focus. A fantastic local resource for at-risk children, they are getting ready to kick off ‘March Madness for Reading’ and are seeking volunteers. Childhood literacy and development is key to forming life long learning habits. I have been active with my own local literacy council for 6 years and it’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. The look a child gets on their face when they are reading and they finally “get it” is priceless. The rythym, the ability to go to places unthought of, all within their imagination is unlimited.

So today I share a press release with you in hopes that my friends locally will get involved with Thompson and a cause they work tirelessly to support. Because the children you help today are the leaders of tomorrow.

Agency Seeks Volunteer Readers March 1- 31 at Thompson Child Development Center on Clanton Road

What: Thompson Child & Family Focus, a nonprofit provider of treatment, care and education for at‑risk children and families, will hold its 15th annual March Madness for Reading, an initiative that encourages children to embrace early literacy activities. This year’s theme, “Plant the Need to Read and Watch it Grow,” will engage families, Thompson staff,  local celebrities and the community-at-large, in numerous activities to inspire a passion for reading that fosters lifelong learning habits.

Photo/News Coverage Opportunities:

§  Tues., March 1 – Seemore Goodstuff from WTVI will attend the Kickoff, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

§  Wed., March 16 – N.C. Children’s author Cathy Eller will entertain the children with puppetry and storytelling from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

§  Thurs., March 31 – Children will dress up as their favorite character for the grand finale celebration with Bob Evans’ mascots “Biscuit” and “Gravy” from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Who: Thompson’s March Madness for Reading has attracted thousands of corporate and community volunteers since its inception in 1997. Last year, volunteers read more than 20,000 books.  This year, support and participation are welcomed from Paragon Commercial Bank, Autotrader.com, Charlotte Alumnae Delta Theta Sorority Inc., and WordNet Radio.

When: Volunteers are needed to read to children on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. or 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers will read provided books for 15-30 minutes. To volunteer, contact Raechelle Berry,rberry@thompsoncff.org , 704.644-4396.

Where: Thompson Child Development Center, 1645 Clanton Road.

Why: Thompson Child Development Center serves up to 150 children from birth to 5 years of age from its state-of-the-art facility on Clanton Road in west Charlotte.  The Center provides North Carolina five-star licensed early childhood education to a diverse population – many of whom are exposed to domestic violence, substance abuse, and impoverished environments.  A large percentage of the children enrolled have been diagnosed with special needs or have high risk factors that challenge their academic and lifelong development.  Thompson helps change the lives of these children and families through innovative developmental educational programming.

For More Information Contact:

Raechelle Berry, Thompson Child & Family Focus,  r berry at thompson cff dot org

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An Interview with La Traviata’s Jennifer Black

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This week Opera Carolina performs its production of Verdi’s La Traviata, one of the most popular operas ever produced. Based on the true love story between Alexander Dumas and Marie Duplessis, the opera is itself the basis for the story in Moulin Rouge. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with soprano Jennifer Black, who plays the lead role of Violeta Valery, Paris’ most famous courtesan.

Jennifer made her New York City Opera as Musetta in La Boeheme in 2006, and has had a string of impressive debuts in her career. From playing Lisa in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2009 production of La Sonnambula and again with the Met in 2010 as Micaela in their production of Carmen. Her complete bio can be found here.

I caught up with her after rehearsal and asked her to share her thoughts on starting out in her career, how to approach opera with newbies, and even on women’s body images.  It was a delight. Her voice is as gorgeous as she is, but what really shone was the ease she made me feel, as well as her enthusiasm for sitting down to talk, even after a long rehearsal.

What type of training did you go through in college?

I didn’t start singing really until my senior year of high school. I sort of locked myself in my bedroom and sung to myself, but I didn’t want to do it front of anyone else. But vocal training with me and my undergrad teacher focused a lot on technique and developing a healthy technique. She wouldn’t let me sing above a high ‘G’ and I remember thinking “I can, I can. I want to show you.” But she wanted to make sure so we built up the middle voice and all of this stuff before going up high. And I really didn’t have any bad habits because I really hadn’t learned how to sing quite yet. So I really lucked out with the teacher I had in undergrad. We got along really well, I understood her vocabulary because sometimes that can be a real barrier between teacher and student if they learned different vocabulary and a set of terms you’re not familiar with. But I did undergrad for 5 years and a lot focused on technique and languages and stuff like that.

If I wanted to bring an adult and “break the ice” of the opera to them, which one would you suggest?

La Traviata or La Boheme, I would say either.

What has been your favorite role to date?

Actually I’d have to say Violetta. Mimi and I get along really well (I talk about my characters like they’re actual people.) Even though this is a musical rehearsal you still have to “get into it” at a certain level. But Violetta has been through so much. She’s extremely well-educated, knowledgeable, emotional, self-sacrificing, selfless in fact. But she also realizes “Alright, I’ve had my happiness and it was great while it lasted, but it’s over.”

La Traviata’s first performance in 1873 was a failure, but now it’s listed as the #3 opera in America. Why do you think La Traviata endures?

It’s got to be the music and the story line. If you want to generalize opera as far as the story, I don’t know what sets it apart from other operas. But the music is irreplaceable. It’s Verdi.

I want to ask about Moulin Rouge. Do you think more people would attend if they knew La Traviata was the basis for the musical?

Baz Luhrmann did the Broadway version of La Bohemme. Basically it was the opera, with an up-to-date cast and an up-to-date production. So Baz Luhrmann had an interest in opera, and I’m sure he saw La Traviata and thought “This is a good story. I can use this, I can sell this.” He put it in a time that was extremely popular and very colorful. He used that as an effect to reach audiences with this fantastic story. And of course the cast was amazing…

That was my next question. Would you like to have seen a trained vocalist?

I have great respect for who do straight theater and then like in the movie “Chicago,” I have great respect for any actor/actress that decides they want to use their own voice in these things. However, speaking strictly from a career point of view, that takes away opportunities from singers. But still they’re well-known actors/actresses that sell tickets.

Also, do you feel more pressure to be a size 0?

Oh yes, you get more everyday.

Deborah Voigt didn’t get cast for a role because she couldn’t get fitted for the dress. How do you feel about that? Do you think it takes away from the performance?

I think it does. Not a lot of opera singers are built like actresses. A lot of singers have had gastric bypass, plastic surgery, etc. because they may have to wear a bikini or even be naked on stage. It’s becoming like Hollywood. You have to support your voice and there’s a delicate balance. And every body is different. Everyone has their optimum body weight, but unfortunately that optimum may not be what’s popular at a given moment.

I’m an Educational Heretic

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There are too many people in college. There. I said it. A bold statement, but true. I guess I am writing this out of aggravation, frustration and good ole irritation.

I have had this discussion with so many people that have validated my thoughts. When enough proof is shoved in front of my face to cause love-hate relationship with today’s mindset, it’s time to talk. It used to be that parents wanted better for their children. They didn’t want them to work as hard. So, they struggled to help pay for college, pushed their kids to do well in school and were able to glow from the fruits of their successes. Now, the thought is that if you don’t attend college, you won’t succeed. However, it’s creating a nation of over-educated, debt-burdened professional students that have no real life work experience and no idea where they are going next.  We won’t even go into the subject of whether or not all these kids should be in college, but suffice it to say I don’t think they all need to be.  Trade schools are a great alternative and seems more and more underutilized.

There is one thing they do know: minimum wage doesn’t pay for $100k in student loans.  And while all these kids come out of college armed with these degrees, the fact is there may be some fields where we already have too many people working in a specific field.  More people just means less wages to go around.  The pie doesn’t get bigger, the pieces just get smaller.

So we may very well find ourselves approaching a fork in the road: do we continue this relentless push for more bachelors and masters degrees for our kids or do we redefine what it means to be educated?

Maybe it’s time we started…

Literacy is a forgotten word…

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Not long after this post is up and being read, I will be at the local elementary school reading with the Literacy Council.  It’s something that is near and dear to my heart.  I am a strong believer in literacy and that you should never stop learning. It keeps our brains healthy and active, which is very important in warding off mental deterioration as we get older.

What do I do with our literacy council? I show up at 8am and have a child that I am designated to read with all school year. We pick out a book, sit in the cafeteria and read it several times over, working on comprehension, pronunciation, etc. Then I quiz on the content of the book we have just read. If I feel like they are able to answer my questions well enough we take an AR (Accelerated Reader) quiz.

People don’t realize the need for volunteers to do this exact sort of thing. School systems everywhere are strapped for funding and what we do is necessary.

Why?

Because no matter how much a teacher gets done during the school day, if it is not being reinforced at home, then there are problems. So many children don’t receive the attention they need at home regarding homework. There is less and less emphasis on literacy, reading and doing well in school.

Also, with the End of Grade testing that students are subjected to, they are forced to move as quickly from one subject to the next as quickly as possible. What was once an elementary school curriculum is now best thought of as a funnel team competition with students guzzling down as much of the learning objectives as they can, as quickly as they can. There is little room for practice and repetition that is necessary for children to be successful

And since children seem to get less and less practice, reinforcement, and direction at home, the school has to take over a quasi-parental role hoping to make students and parents more accountable for their education. This is a role which schools are simply not equipped to handle. This is something we all need to keep in mind when we think about what schools can/should provide to their students. Think of the extensions to this role: guidance counseling, sex education, and the like. In my mind, these are all areas where the parent’s views should be paramount. But if the parents are too reluctant/uncomfortable in doing their job, who else is left to do it? Because the alternative is to not provide any guidance to these children and instead of celebrating the kids who do well, we’d bemoan all of the kids doing poorly because their parents didn’t care enough or are too scared to do their jobs as parents – to do the right thing.

But in the meantime, I’ll keep volunteering and I’ll keep working with kids. And I’ll do it one kid at a time.

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