"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:42:54 -0400, JimH penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:
.........that I guess I don't have.
My 18 year old son had the day off from his summer house painting job
because of rain predicted later in the day. So, being a good father I
took
him out to the boat for his second "hands on" lesson on operating and
docking the boat. The first one went great, especially the experience he
got docking the boat with a wind pushing him away from the dock. He has
been boating with me since he was a toddler and literally grew up around
boats.
During our first 'hands on' lesson I told him several important things:
Look back to make sure no boats are coming before backing out of the dock;
keep your right hand on the throttle when running in the river to/from the
Lake (all no wake zone but some folks do foolish things on this fairly
narrow river); and, bump the speed up gently when going from idle to 5 mph
no wake speed.
He forgot all those things today.
He also forgot where the trim control button for the OD was, forgot his
USCG Power Squadron operators card and forgot his sunglasses and a hat (it
was hot and sunny). After almost sticking the OD in the mud at a
particularly shallow spot at the entrance to the river from the marina
(because he did not raise the OD before getting to this spot and could not
find the button to do so) he decided that he wanted to go home.
I do not like quitters but today was not going well so I gave in.
I was proud when he got his USCG PS certification over the winter without
any prompting from me. I am happy to teach him everything he needs to
know
about this boat, including operating it, anchoring it and docking it so he
can eventually take it out on his own. But he does not take negative
feedback well and neither of us have a lot of patience..........deadly
combinations.
I am not letting him take the boat out by himself (he will be with 2 or 3
friends) until he has operated it with me at least a half dozen times
*and*
I am confident he knows what he is doing.
Any suggestions on making this go smoother in the future?
Yeah. Call and early end to the debacle. Tough love... as it were,....
Lesson 1
1) Got your power squadron card?
2)) Hat?
3) Sunglasses?
Fine, lesson over.... come back tomorrow with a renewed sense of
responsibility and maturity....
___________________________
Lesson 2
1) Repeat Lesson 1
if not 100%... lesson over, don't continue being an irresponsible
idiot. Get an attitude adjustment and come back tomorrow with a
renewed sense of responsibility and maturity....
else... continue...
2) Show me the power trim....
3) why do we use it... when?
4) Demonstrate use thereof leaving the marina......
Not 100%... Fine, lesson over.... come back to morrow with a renewed
sense of responsibility and maturity....
Hell, Jim, you get the idea....
____________________________
I do not like quitters
Then don't. Who the hell is in control here... and why? It's your
goddamn boat and more importantly your goddamn kid. Do what you have
to do to keep both safe. Consider that what you teach now may, after
your demise, contribute to your grandchildren's and
great-grandchildren's sum of knowledge and safety. "This is what you
grandfather taught me" carries ONE HELL OF A LOT OF WEIGHT.... at
least it does in my family....
deadly combinations.....
NO. NO. NO. Deadly combinations are confidence and arrogance...
something kids have TONS of...... not in an EVIL way... just an
inexperienced and ignorant way.
At the ripe old age of 21, I think this is finally making some sense
to my kid! Experience isn't necessarily something good.... it is
surviving your OWN mistakes and learning from other's mistakes...
whether they survived or not.... USEFUL.... not necessarily GOOD....
definitely, for the survivors... beneficial.....
BOTTOM LINE
______________________________________
As a professional teacher, I give the following advice:
Every teacher must learn that their job is to allow the student to
learn. You can't learn (teach) 'em. It just doesn't work that way. At
best, you facilitate learning!
Students get ****ed off. What? You never had trouble learning
something? Patience of Job..... sure as Hell doesn't describe me OR
my students.... .............OK, let's try again...
Students don't really get as mad at YOU as they do at THEMSELVES....
you are just more convenient to strike out at ..... don't take it to
heart.... they'll thank you in the next decade.... trust me, I've been
doing this for almost 4 decades.....
Keep your eyes on the prize... a competent student...... whatever it
takes. It isn't about you or your fragile feelings.... it is about
their competence and ultimate success.....
__________________________________________________
I know, Jim..... it still hurts, but........ know what? You are the
teacher.........
--
Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.
Homepage
http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/
Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
Killer advice Gene! I even had my retired school teacher wife read it and
she agreed with everything you said. Thanks for the kick in the butt and
advice on setting me straight on this!
Butch also offered some great advice earlier.