"...Once the cloak of humiliation lifted, I
could see the light...."
Disclaimer: I have never been to clinics by
either of the gentlemen mentioned. My comments only relate to learning and
learning experiences.
The techniques of teaching humans described
here sound a lot like the techniques used on horses by the old time
"hit'em with a board", "put a running W on them" school of horse
trainers.
Human learning is not optimized by humiliation,
which is a form of abuse just as much as hitting a pupil with a whip
is.
I personally was sure that I was terminally
clumsy until I taught myself to ride when I was 25. My school
experiences in "physical education" consisted of large men with no
necks hollering at me that I was doing a particular thing
wrong. The result was that I avoided sports, and read books
instead. I was taught reading by teachers who encouraged,
praised and never humiliated their students.
I now know that if a Zen, low key,
praise approach is used I can learn physical
skills.
No one should feel bad if a teacher's style causes
them distress. They should just leave and never come back. There is
another teacher whose style will make them feel good, and thus learn much
faster.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
