Since I’ve been working as a substitute teacher, and for years was taking almost any job that came along, I’ve caught myself asking that question regularly. Like the time I had an afternoon job teaching high school Health. I was there a bit early, at the end of the period before I was to take over, and I walked into a classroom full of CPR dummies. Fortunately, there was a paramedic there to explain the CPR lesson.
That’s how I met Officer Bruno. I’d had a high school job on a Friday morning, and a social studies teacher wasn’t feeling well, so I was asked to stay and take his afternoon classes. The lesson was a guest lecture by three police officers. The officer I distinctly remember was Officer Bruno, because he had four legs and titanium teeth. He was a Belgian shepard police dog and yes, legally he was a police officer. He represented a substantial investment, so his main asset — his canine teeth — were coated with titanium. He was a normal dog in the classroom because he realized where he was. Put him on the street, and it was a different story. Of course, being a dog had some disadvantages. He wore a shock collar because he could get distracted (“squirrel!”) in the middle of a chase. When it was time to retire, his handler was pledged to take care of him for the rest of his life.
That day, I think I learned more than anyone else.