How much formal [non-diving]

[Lawman]

education should a diving instructor have? Since
they're teaching Phys Ed should it be a bachelors
degree with teacher training? Should anyone be
allowed to teach diving reguardless of education
if they are certified by a training agency? SSI [and
others] give college credit for their classes. Should
a high school dropout be allowed to teach classes
for college credit?

This isn't a troll. It's a legitimate question. What
do you think?

 

[cmay]

I teach the scuba program at a community college and they require a minimum of a bachelors degree. That's just their policy. As far as what education should be required, that's not so easy to answer. There are probally high school dropouts that are better qualified and teach a better class than a P.H.D.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Interesting question. Someone I know wanted to get a class started at Purdue. I can teach the program if it is in the continueing ed program. I can't however teach it as part of their regular cariculum because I don't hold a graduate degree. In other words I can't be Purdue faculty. BTW, any graduate degree would meet the requirement.

It does make you wonder what qualifies one to design their own class (like some agencies allow) if their degree isn't in educational system design?

On the other hand I think I have a pretty good handle on what the problems are in dive training. I don't think more non-diving related education would solve the problem. IMO, we need more diving in dive training. We have too many teachers now who teach but can't do.

For what divers want to pay for an OW cert you don't get a phd. In fact your lucky you get someone who can read and write at all. Instructor pay is less than what one could make slinging burgers. Now if we could charge $1500 like I think we should that would be a different story. Look at what tech training costs. Tech training doesn't need the expensive pool time and the student usually has their own equipment. Considering overhead, time and risk entry level training should be the most expensive.

 

[Divesherpa]

Hey Mike,

You forgot to mention that the insurance for Rec is more than tech. I'm gonna stop teaching OW in the next 6 months (except for friends and family).

I guess I'll stick with training in doubles and overhead.

As to the subject of teaching OW and having a degree, I only know a few cave instructors that have degrees. Someone with a degree typically wants to make money, not lose money. Teaching scuba isn't done for much profit, so there goes the higher education idea.

 

[Butch103]

Lawman, I really don't think the formal education is relevant <sp?>. Experience in both like and scuba IMHO are what really counts........:boom:

 

[The Chairman]

but I couldn't afford the tux, so I settled for the University of Florida. Never did finish my degree!

 

[jiveturkey]

I think we place too much emphasis on that piece of paper in our society. It'd be an advantage for organizational skills and such but not at all necessary. An instructor is like a tradesman: trained for his particular skill. His effectiveness within his trade is dependent upon his skills in that trade acquired through practical study and experience in the field. It doesn't matter if he can write 1500 words on how diving and NGOs can save the third world.

 

[Divesherpa]

NetDoc once bubbled...
but I couldn't afford the tux, so I settled for the University of Florida. Never did finish my degree!

Watch out, some of us moved a long way to go cave diving, oops, I mean to the University of Florida. Have you seen the attire of the student bodies lately? I see why they call 'em shorts!:whoa:

 

[The Chairman]

is usually heralded by a significant rise in auto accidents. Some people watch the wrong rear end.

 

[MikeS]

Lawperson,

When have you made a post that wasn’t a troll; but I’ll bite. If one was to really want to “raise the bar,” the issue is not training, it’s Certification. Separate training from Certification. Create a true Certification Agency that does not make money from training, but as a lawyer … you know that (i.e. the Bar).

Mike