Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Instructor Certification in Massachusetts

On Sat, Nov 21, 2009 at 08:18:54AM -0800, Craig Jungers quoted:
> "(B)  Anyone who holds himself out as a kayak instructor for hire shall
> obtain and maintain: (i) first aid training approved by the department of
> public health; (ii) cardiopulmonary resuscitation training approved by the
> department of public health; and (iii) kayak instructor certification from
> the American Canoe Association, American Red Cross certification in small
> craft safety and basic water rescue, or equivalent water training.

I don't like this at all.  I was teaching for years before I acquired
ACA certification, and I was most certainly qualified to do so.  On the
other hand, my background and certification (river kayaking) probably
don't equip me very well to teach sea kayaking, and beyond the basic
elements of that discipline (those that are common to all kayaking),
I'd probably not be a very good instructor.

So this provision is simultaneously too much and too little.

Another problem with it is that it creates a mandate for the impratur
of private organizations.  I know this isn't unique -- we see it with
professional engineers, doctors, etc. -- but it does come with side
effects.  Among those is the creation of a virtual monopoly associated
with a revenue stream -- providing strong incentive for maintenance
of that monopoly.

This bill reads like a we-must-do-something-let's-do-anything approach
which is very typical of regulatory approaches to safety and security.
(e.g., "let's make everyone take off their shoes at security checkpoints",
an obviously off-the-scale stupid approach)  It would probably be best
if it was abandoned in favor of nothing at all, but that seems unlikely.

---Rsk
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