title: The Racing Car Driver: A Poem
author: Joan Shulman
description: I was born in Bronx, New York, in the mid 1930's. We moved to Buffalo, New York, where I attended public school at a school that was used for training teachers. I loved my Student Teachers, one of whom sparked my interest in writing and teaching. I attended State University College at Buffalo (SUNY - Buffalo) and graduated from there in 1955 with a degree in Elementary Education specializing in Primary Grades. My minor was English, and it was there that teachers encouraged my poetic efforts. I never published my writings, but went on to a teaching career. I was an elementary school teacher, and taught 2nd and 5th grades in the middle 1950's. After marriage and two children, a girl and a boy, I went back to school to earn my Reading Credential and Master's Degree in "The Teaching of Reading using Computers." I earned my Master's of Science Degree at California State University, Dominguez Hills, completing it in 1985, thirty years after earning my BS. While a student at Cal State University, I became interested in the use of Computers in the Classroom and earned my certificate as a Computer teacher. When I completed my coursework, I was offered a position in the Learning Assistance Center at that same University. The position was "Coordinator of the Reading and Study Skills Program." I worked with students on building vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, and taught classes in College Study Skills, including "How to read a college textbook" and "Test Taking Skills." While there, I taught in English Classes building college reading and writing skills. I've also taught Reading Classes at Cerritos Community College. In addition, I've worked with International Students in the Torrance Adult School, helping them learn to help their children by improving their own language skills. We used children's storybooks to help them increase their English vocabulary. Throughout my life, I've written many poems, mostly about friends and family. I've written an annual poetic letter since my daughter was born, in 1963, and these have become part of my family history. When my children were young, I wrote poems for them ("The Racing Car Driver" was written for my son, when he was 5 years old). I also wrote poems about our pets, dogs, cats, hamsters, snakes. None of these were published, but may be some day. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I've decided that publishing one of my poems was on my "Bucket List." So, this is my first endeavor.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **WHAT DRIVES CARS**
  
  
  by Carl Frederick
  
  
  
  
  
  * * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  People—or things—good enough to do a good job are likely to have ideas of
  their own....
  
  
  
  
  
  Paul Whitman stepped into his car and relaxed. He’d only had the vehicle,
  Victor-16, for a week but he’d already become attached to it—even fond of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Shall I drive you to Central High School?” said Victor.
  
  
  
  
  
  Paul smiled. Victor’s voice, eager, youthful, enthusiastic, always reminded
  him of the kids at the school where he worked as a guidance counselor. Perhaps
  that alone explained why Paul felt a fondness for the vehicle.
  
  
  
  
  
  “The high school, yes,” said Paul. “But stop first at the CoffeeNuts drive-
  through.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes, sir.” Victor rolled out into traffic. “The family says there’s congested
  traffic on Route 611. May I take an alternate route?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Yes. Thanks.” Paul felt sheepish thanking a car, but it was hard not to think
  of Victor as a person—a person with a family.
  
  
  
  
  
  The Victor Class vehicles were a se