I Get The Distinct Impression You Are Not Listening

“A visibly frustrated Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias urged residents on Monday to make sure they even need a Real ID before standing in a potentially long line to get one.”  This was the first paragraph in a newspaper article on Tuesday.  

What’s going on?

As everyone is aware, Wednesday was the deadline to get a Real ID–this is an ID you would need to fly domestically or enter a federal building.  We have known about this deadline for over 6 years, but people waited until the last minute to get their Real ID.  ALL of these people could have gotten one when they renewed their driver’s license.  Our renewal is every 4 years and instead of just renewing your license, you could have gone in and gotten a Real ID.  The Real ID does make you jump through a few more hoops, but then it would be all done.  Instead, like normal, people waited until the last minute to get it–hence, the long lines.

What Alexi is most frustrated with is the false or misleading information.  Below are TRUE statements that people just didn’t seem to know…🤔

1. You can get a Real ID ANYTIME!  If you didn’t get it by Wednesday, then get it Thursday, or in June, or in 2026!  The deadline was IF you were going to fly–then you need a Real ID.

2. If you are NOT flying soon, then no reason for the rush to get the Real ID.  It is ONLY if you are flying (or entering a federal building–which you don’t want to enter into one anyway!).

3. If you have a PASSPORT, you don’t need a Real ID to fly.  You can use your passport instead.

4. Driver’s licenses, even if not Real IDs, are still valid for driving or using it for identification.

Why don’t people know the statements above?

Alexi is perplexed.  He doesn't understand where the confusion is.  “Outside of lighting myself on fire, we’ve literally had over a dozen press conferences on Real ID and we’ve literally created a whole website (for it).”

Alexi is frustrated, perplexed, spellbound.  He feels he and his office has done EVERYTHING to communicate to people about the true statements on the Real ID.  Why are there long lines?  Why are people waiting until the last minute, for something they can get another time? Why are they waiting in line, then turned away because they don't have the right paperwork?

Poor Alexi.  He really doesn't understand why this is happening.  But there is one group of people who TOTALLY understands what is happening.

That group is teachers.

If you are a teacher, you know what I am talking about.  EVERY day, we give instructions 30 different ways for EACH assignment.  Then we answer 30 questions about that assignment.  Then we still have students who come up to us and say “I don’t get it.”  Seriously?

Or we have some students who sit in their seats and just stare.  “Johnny, are you going to begin the assignment?”  “What assignment?” Oh, boy….

It doesn’t matter how many times you explain it.  It doesn’t matter how many ways you explain it.  It doesn’t matter how much time you give them.  People will forget, then act without doing any research, and do it at the last minute.

As teachers, we see this ALL THE TIME in students.

And, after all, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Alexi, take our advice.  Don’t blame yourself.  Take a deep breath.  Keep repeating the instructions to the same people…even through clenched teeth.  Then go home, have a glass of wine, and cry quietly. This is what teachers do everyday!

And don’t worry.  These things will eventually work themselves out.