Instructor?

[Babylon]

....I think it's just being explicit about expectations. I don't think many people would disagree with any of them so no problem writing it down - it makes the process of expelling bad apples much shorter which is good for everyone.

I'm afraid that is an example of reductive thinking which misses the bigger picture.

What's not good for everyone is the fact that such overbearing officiousness has meant that a wide range of activities increasingly lack "good apple" volunteers. Men and women with a vast amount of activity-specific knowledge, life-experience and goodwill who would once have given their time freely and willingly, especially to the young who'd benefit the most, now simply don't.

And all the while humanity's small but constant proportion of psychopaths, sociopaths and slime-balls continue to get away with blue murder....

 

[Sandy]

Yachtmaster Exam 2021
Admittedly a certain degree of hyperbole in my original post: watered down compared with services training doesn’t necessarily mean completely rubbish.

I wonder if that is the same retired brigadier that I sail with from time to time?

Do you know if he took John Lang to Antarctica?

 

[zoidberg]

Yachtmaster Exam 2021
Admittedly a certain degree of hyperbole in my original post: watered down compared with services training doesn’t necessarily mean completely rubbish.

I think we can allow each other the occasional hint of hyperbole for effect, and filter accordingly.

It's my understanding that the Yacht Cruising Association's 'National Training Syllabus' ( which did 'mission creep' into the Yachtmaster Scheme ) was an amalgam of the training codes used by the Services, individually, and a broadly similar structure from the Cruising Association. Several very capable people were involved in the gestation into 'A Damn Good Idea'.

At one stage, there were two retired brigadiers managing desks at the top of the YCA/RYA, plus a Lt Commander RN. My own mentor, John Reeve, was involved, and was instrumental AIR in creating the RIN's Small Craft Group. He'd been a Flight Lieutenant/Navigator on Shackletons and, later, instructed on Nimrods - and had the rare distinction of being a designated 'Captain' of his aircraft. A great bear of a man, he went on to be a Defence Intelligence specialist on the 'Russia' desk, and we can't talk about that here....

I suspect my good friend 'laika' and a fair few others will likely agree with me that it is not so much the nature of the organisations, but the qualities of the individual instructors, that makes all the difference. One can use the analogy that 'a good pub always reflects a good landlord'.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

... What's not good for everyone is the fact that such overbearing officiousness has meant that a wide range of activities increasingly lack "good apple" volunteers. ...

And all the while humanity's small but constant proportion of psychopaths, sociopaths and slime-balls continue to get away with blue murder....

I hardly think any of what was posted could be considered overbearing. What do you think is overbearing and why? As far as I can tell, volunteers are plentiful in the sailing world, UK at least, for example, the below all rely on volunteers: -

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust​

https://www.oyt.org.uk
https://hwdt.org
... and the very many successful sailing clubs.

Predatory human beings are few and far between, the exception rather than sthe rule. I think you have it all back to front and will find that all the organisation in the examples I give, and all the yachts clubs that ue volunteers will have some form of code of conduct. My local golf club, bowling club and my professional institution all have codes of conducts, many in place for over a hundred years. If you play a sport, in competition, there will be rules and a code of conduct stating the expected ethics that you will under, as well as the rules of the game.

I am struggling to see a connection with perverts accessing children because a code of conduct has frightened away all the "good apples"; a bizarre outlook.

 

[Babylon]

I didn't suggest that. The connection is in your own mind.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I didn't suggest that. The connection is in your own mind.

You implied it by associating the last paragraph in your post 21, with your comments "what's not good for everyone", linked by your use of the phrase "all the while".

 

[SaltyC]

I hardly think any of what was posted could be considered overbearing. What do you think is overbearing and why? As far as I can tell, volunteers are plentiful in the sailing world, UK at least, for example, the below all rely on volunteers: -

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust​

https://www.oyt.org.uk
https://hwdt.org
... and the very many successful sailing clubs.

Predatory human beings are few and far between, the exception rather than sthe rule. I think you have it all back to front and will find that all the organisation in the examples I give, and all the yachts clubs that ue volunteers will have some form of code of conduct. My local golf club, bowling club and my professional institution all have codes of conducts, many in place for over a hundred years. If you play a sport, in competition, there will be rules and a code of conduct stating the expected ethics that you will under, as well as the rules of the game.

I am struggling to see a connection with perverts accessing children because a code of conduct has frightened away all the "good apples"; a bizarre outlook.

I agree in principle.
Unfortunately,theofficiousness, the increase in beaurocracy, cost and box ticking are putting off the volunteers that were the bedrock of RYA training.
It is becoming a Franchise for 'your' benefit. assuming all are making a living from there model.
As was said, welcome to the 21st century.

 

[laika]

For me, I think you are indeed mis interpreting

Yes clearly flogging a dead horse and I’m not arguing against anyone just seeking clarification: are you / Babylon objecting simply to *having* a code of conduct instead of relying entirely on the integrity of instructors? You said you had no objection to the actual content. If it’s the wording that’s problematic can you give an example of one line item and alternate wording that would be preferable?

 

[ylop]

As a long standing RYA Power boat instructor I sadly think the RYA is going mad on instructions lately, last week we had an instructions on how we should teach a RYA PB2 MOB instructions telling us we should:
quote' The dummy should be a lightweight small float (small milk carton size, or bottle fender) attached to a few links of chain or a small drogue ' unquote

What do they think we have been teaching for the last decades , has anyone in head office ever recovered a real MOB, of course we only use dummies etc but a small milk carton ??? or I really wonder what some instructors teach ???

It was a long time ago now, but I recall an RYA instructor who used to like to use a real “volunteer”! I imagine if they are concerned about using “heavy dummies” it’s probably because someone has hurt their back pulling in a “casualty”. IMHO if primary purpose of the exercise is boat handling skills using a heavy dummy is needlessly adding a risk to the student. If the purpose is to practice actually getting someone on board then a realistic dummy is appropriate but if you have three students practicing MOB say 3 times each do you need to deal with that bit 9 times?

I read the communication with a degree of disbelief. The RYA appear to be treating instructors as children that should be thankful of the Franchise to earn a living.

This disregards those of us who are club volunteers and do not get paid but provide a large part of basic dinghy training.

I don’t see anything there which is off putting to a volunteer? Which points do you think are unnecessary for a volunteer but appropriate for paid instructors?

I don’t think you know what Woke means!