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> >Surely only the most experienced instructors should be teaching beginners.
> >
> >What do the course directors, instructors and beginners out there think?
> 
> I do not agree for the following reasons.

[...etc.]

>    If we take experience related to diving, assuming that they are an
> adequate instructor, then there may well be a waste of talent. A grammar
> school student will not learn arithmetic from a "rocket scientist" any
> better than he will learn it from someone who has only a reasonable
> foundation in math. The "extra knowledge" is beyond the grasp of the
> student.

I see your point, but with regard to diving, I think it's the wisdom, not 
the knowledge, that counts.  An inexperienced instructor may only 
regurgitate data and formulae.  An experienced diver/instructor will 
provide much more insight and (theoretically) allow the students to 
*understand* more.

>    If we take experience related to teaching, then there is the fundamental
> "chicken and egg" problem. There is not anywhere near enough demand for
> education beyond the basics to give a new instructor the opportunity to
> learn to teach well enough to become "most experienced". The turnover in
> the industry is astounding. I am sure that a lot of it is based on the lack
> of value that most people place on the training.

Another excellent point.

Maybe the solution is to only allow exceptionally experienced divers with 
independent teaching experience become insturctors.

Aloha,
Rich

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