I taught math in High School here in Florida. Retired from it now but some of my friends are in a quandry. They are in a heated battle over do they teach kids to pass the FCAT or to they teach how to learn.
As a SCUBA instructor I could only begin to imagine the nightmares & hardships you guys have introducing someone to something that is totally strange to them and life threatening to boot. But I would like to say something as a permenant student, because in this sport you never stop learning.
This is my life, and my responsibility. The buck stops with my giant stride into that other world. But please leave me with a solid objective of what I must always strive to achieve. I like the driving comparison. Its a very similar analogy. There is no way I can race cars right out of driving school, and I wouldnt begin to match bouyancy with a group of DIR guys after just getting my C-Card.
BUT...did you leave me with resources, people I could call, videos to watch, books to read. Did you invite me back to your class just to watch as C-Card student to help me get over any jitters I had while I was in your class? Did you follow up to see if i buddied with someone and if I enjoyed the sport as much you hoped I world? Did you point out who your idols were and who you wish you could dive like?
As a student and a former teacher its my opinion that if you did'nt
you missed the bulleye, and the greatest reward of teaching which is watching your efforts come to full fruition.
Safe diving