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My F-I-L has been teaching driving since before I was born. Now all he does is teach a pre-licensing class and occasionally go out with someone before their road test to let them know if they’re ready.

Obviously his pre-licensing business was thrown into a bit of a tizzy last March. Long about July the NYS DMV decided the pre-licensing class could be taught over the Internet. At this point the ranting began and it hasn’t stopped.

Rant 1: “I don’t want to sit in front of my computer all that time.” He sits in front of a computer to teach the class because he projects his information from his computer. But, owellden.

Rant 2: “How do you know if they’re even paying attention?” You can see them. How do you know they’re paying attention when they’re in the room. The biggest difference is you can know their phone is put away if they’re in the room.

Rant 3: “Kids don’t learn anything off the Internet. I asked a kid who took it over the Internet if he knew what ABS was and he didn’t.” Not everyone teaches what ABS is. But he’s probably right that learning is less optimal over the Internet. Still, I don’t think the attendees learn a lot from sitting through one class. Most of them don’t care as long as they get their certificate. Those who do care will remember they heard something about ABS (or whatever).

Rant 4: “What will people who can’t work a computer do?” They’re screwed. No other answer to that one.

Rant 5: “What ever made the DMV open this to the Internet?” Probably the fact that the Emmy Award Winning Governor wouldn’t tell them when he might allow in-person classes again and people need licenses to work.

Anyway - all that to point out two things: 1. elderly people don’t seem to like it when things change (present company excepted, of course) and 2. When the DMV makes a change it can have a wider impact than anticipated because of the driving “ecosystem.”