Re: [Paddlewise] ACA Greenland certification

Matt Broze wrote:
> 
> >rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote:
> >
> >>  While "sea
> >> kayaking" is being taught without any particular style name attached to
> >> it, it too has a spectrum of styles and approaches.  And some of it can
> >> be quite doctrinaire.  Take assisted rescues involving 1 kayaker
> >> assisting a capsized kayaker to get back into his/her kayak.  I know of
> >> about five different approaches to this.  But, boy, trying doing one
> >> that the instructor doesn't favor and you get tongue-lashed and put down
> >> immediately.
> >
> Steve Cramer responded:
> 
> >I would suggest that this is a function of the instructor, and not the
> >body that accredited him or her.
> >
And now here's Matt:
>
> I would suggest the culture or system that spawned that instructor was a
> rigid hierarchy governed by rigid rules that have hardened right along with
> the certifiers arteries. The instructor was most likely browbeaten by the
> certifier and now its his turn to administer the beatings. Much the same as
> abused children are likely to grow up to be abusers themselves.
> 
> I hope Chuck Holst was right when he wrote:
> > I understand that in traditional Greenland culture, children and
> >other people are expected to learn by themselves by observing others,
> >and that it is considered impolite to criticize how another person
> >does something.
> 
> It is a great concept for learning, one that will lead to self control and
> real competence (as opposed to outside control and imitation competence.
> There are no limiting rules or criticism to stifle creativity or prevent one
> from progressing beyond the "teacher".  Following rules creates only the
> imitation of competence. Or is it, the imitation of imitation competence
> that results from an "only one right way" carrot and whip approach.

Hoooeee!  Boy, I thought I was curmudgeonly, but Matt, you have me beat!  <g>

I have stayed out of this debate until now, because I've seen the movie, and
the two major variations of the ending.

Matt sits in my camp:  any "procedure," be it rescue or paddling style,
advocated as "the" only way is wrong for some situation somewhere.  And,
Murphy's Law being operable everywhere, it is certain all of us will encounter
a situation demanding some variant of the "official" rescue/paddling style we
learned.

Always been a shake and bake guy.  However, I have learned a lot from
instruction, even poor instruction.

I think the attraction of "certified schools of paddling technique" is that
the certification provides the feeling of security.  Overdrawn example quote: 
"Oh, wheew!  I passed that rescue class, now I'm safe.  I don't have to think
about rescue any more."    That may be the most dangerous aspect of
certification protocols.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
certified curmudgeon  
(American Curmudgeon Association, British Curmudgeon Union, and Ph.D.)
--
Everybody knows what B.S. is, right?  Well, M.S. means "more of the same," and
Ph.D. stands for "piled higher and deeper."  <hee hee!>
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