Bob DBF
Contributor
Instructors adding stuff is a disappointing concept imho. My question is, “why would the instructor adding stuff want to teach an his or her incomplete program?" - and by incomplete I mean one where the instructor feels compelled to add stuff? How does the instructor (or student) know that what the instructor is adding is correct, right, or appropriate?
The OW instructor I had added information on local diving including reading conditions, strategies for dealing with changing conditions and rescue skills. It was basicly teaching the skills necessary to dive the NorCal Mendocino coast. It was having a mentor while in class. In my case, since I had been diving for years without a card, he set down a set of rules and goals for me to make me a better diver before receiving my card. These are a couple of examples, given time I could probably remember more, and be more specific.
His OW divers were responsible for the added material to receive a card. It was a NAUI/PADI class in 1980. From my understanding, when PADI stopped the C-card from being dependant on added material he dropped PADI.
More importantly - Is it ethical for the instructor to add stuff? Where did the instructor get the ‘added stuff’ from? Did the source of the ‘added stuff’ get credit (money) for their intellectual property (IP)? Or did the instructor just 'steal' from another program (or another agency) to add to his or her insufficient program?
I would say he took his own experience and taught his students to avoid mistakes he made and to teach students that it is better to take the time to evaluate conditions and make a decision than start diving and find your skills overwhelmed by the conditions. His goal was to produce a skilled thinking diver.
The 'added stuff' argument is imho just an excuse to allow the "it's the instructor, not the agency" feel good non-competitive all schools are the same fallacy to continue
The addition of material is irrevelent if the student is not held accountable for the knowledge in order to receive his card. In addition, considering the speed one can certify today, I don't know where an instructor would add any skills or information.
Bob