People on highways interpret speed limits as a minimum velocity. On certain stretches of the Florida interstate 95, the speed limit is 70 miles per hour or 113 kilometers per hour (31 m/s). But several times, except for the odd truck carrying a herd of elephants, we were the only ones actually moving at 70 mph.

The gaps between us and other cars kept increasing. Yes, the lanes are wide and numerous. The road is flat and likely to be free of ice for at least 364 of 365 days. It's also not a good idea to lag too far behind the rest of traffic. But none of this makes driving fast rational.

1. Why do People Drive Fast?

He stood by the door of a subway car, looking from side to side to see if anyone was looking. Maybe my clothing camouflaged me against the background of my seat. More likely, I did not pose a threat, and certainly he didn't realize I was a teacher at his school. He opened his long coat, and for a moment I thought he was going to flash the ghosts of the subway tunnels when suddenly he pulled out a marker from his inner pocket and tagged an advertisement on the wall.

Although I've earned a living because of parents and other adults who think otherwise, some people believe they can do a better job teaching their own children. Parents who convert their homes into schools have to be respected. They do sacrifice money---one parent usually works on a part-time basis or doesn't earn a salary at all. But there's far more. Many teachers complain about a society that only pays lip and financial service to education while not being intellectually committed to it. Well, here's a group taking action on a daily basis, devoting themselves to making their children literate and numerate.