Instructors: Why do you teach?

Because to teach is to learn twice, and I am a selfish man.

The real reason I finally went to the trouble to get a couple of certs for on-paper credibility? Because of all the bad information I hear from students who recently took their CCW course, or asked their bro-in-law who's a cop about it.

But it is paying off. I have taken all of my new in-laws shooting, and they love it.

I enjoy it. Nothing much better than taking a poor shooter and coaching them to get good performance.

Also due to me observing new shooters having to wade through a swamp of mis-information, falsehoods and out right lies.

Passing forward is its own reward.

Why does ANYONE teach? Because the believe that passing on this knowledge is important. Without the next generation of students and instructors, the hobby would die out. More importantly, the shooters of today are tomorrows guardians of the second amendment.

Our responsibility to the next generation of shooters is to teach them well.

I teach judgmental use of force to law enforcement officers. It is very gratifying to think that the techniques I teach might save an officer's life one day.

It is especially gratifying to learn, on several occasions, that my techniques have saved not only officers' lives but their careers, the lives of innocent bystanders, and even the lives of suspects as well.

In the hope that a few will absorb the lessons that I paid DEARLY to learn myself.

One less mistake is one less person harmed.

Unfortunately the best teacher is THE most painful = experience.

I kind of fell into it. My employer found out I had a bit of instructor experience from the military and sent me off to become a firearms instructor. I was always a pretty good shot, but I became much better after going through the instructor academy. Then I found out that I truly enjoy teaching, and there's the added incentive knowing that I'm teaching officers who just might be my back-up some day -- so I want them to become as proficient as possible with their tools. I even enjoy the classroom -- I want my students to thoroughly understand the how and why of using deadly force, but also to be grounded in policy and the laws. I try to make the learning experience enjoyable to students, so they might become firearms enthusiasts themselves, and maybe even "spread the gospel" a little ... I just love teaching. A day at the range, teaching folks skills, encouraging them, the smell of gunsmoke and the smiles when students feel good about how they're doing ... beats working!

I do not instruct anything related to shooting but I instruct at driver's schools for amateur road racing--you did say to not comment about what we teach.

Why do I instruct?

I enjoy it.

I get to give back something to the hobby and sport that so many other volunteers participate in to allow me to play.

I build new trackside friendships.

I am proud when one of my students excels and becomes successful at the sport.

I initially got the (NRA) teaching certs when I lived in an eastern state that was trying to pass a law so that citizens (they use the term very loosely) would have to complete an "approved" course before buying a gun. Our fear was that if the watchers were the only ones who could offer the course it might not get offered very often.

Nowadays the only thing I use my "official" credentials for is to run the cub scout BB gun course, but I do "teach" one-on-one for fun (no money). I'm in a college town in a gun-friendly state but "kids" from more urban areas move through the area for college and I introduce a few of them to guns. We bring the college group from church out every year and with 5-6 volunteer range officers we do a basic intro and have a lot of fun. We had a rapist loose on campus a few years ago (very newsworthy event in this small town). I helped several sororities learn how to shoot a .38 revolver or a small 9mm.Even though they caught the guy before my first class, many followed through having realized "it can happen here".

I teach to give back to my local community. It is a way for me to share the knowledge I have gained over the years while introducing new shooters to the sport.

I am a Certified Instructor with the United States Parachuting Association (I know you didn't need to know but it is important for waht I have to say).

In teaching the skills necessary to become a competent and safe parachutist, one disassembles their own skillsets, examines them in detail and passes them on to those who are in a position to learn.

In doing so, one becomes much more expert at the skill being taught. All bases are covered and each skill is conveyed in it's entirety. As an instructor, one must see themselves as a student of the craft in order to fully understand how to teach and benefit from the lesson being taught. As the student learns (and demonstrates the skills being taught), the instructor is able to see and understand the values of those skills.

It is satisfying to watch a student execute their first jump with clockwork precision and attention to every detail without being distracted by the dramatic effects of stepping out of an airplane and having gravity take over. I get to jump for free too, which doesn't hurt.

Dan

The fact that I am beginning to teach will come as a surprise to one of the Moderators here because he has actually spent time training me in the past.

First, I've always been more of a technician than a politician so in my 9-5 job I prefer to teach/manage than sell.

Then one day I was posting a question or two here and one of the Moderators offered to meet me at a range. That afternoon session lit a fire in me to learn more.

It started with an NRA Basic Pistol Course. The Instructor there stoked my interest to teach even more. That led to getting certified to teach the State required Concealed Carry Class and my interest in teaching is evolving from there.

Why, because it is infectious, because I enjoy it and it is something I genuinely want to get better at doing.

Follow-up. I teach so I can experience days like today. I had a 70ish year old lady on the range. She only recently started shooting. Her husband started her on his immaculate S&W K-22 but she says it was too heavy so today she was breaking in her Sig Mosquito in .22 caliber. She had a few rounds Fail To Feed, possbily ammo related. She asked if I could help her so I showed her how to Tap-Rack-Ready. She watched attentively and asked me to show her a second time. A few rounds later I heard click when I should have heard bang (well, pop since it is a .22) and as I turned around she said outloud to no one in particular "Tap-Rack-Ready" and performed the drill perfectly and had her Sig running again in two shakes. Her husband, a former Phantom F-4 pilot was standing off to the side grinning from ear to ear.

I teach so I can share moments like that.

Knowledge unshared dies with the holder. How sad would that be!

I like to teach because teaching the basics forces you to constantly re-read the laws, re-focus on shooting fundamentals... oh, and when I can teach it pays for ammo.

I instruct because I enjoy it. No matter the topic, if it's something I know I enjoy teaching it.

I do my firearms instruction because I enjoy it, I learn, and I believe that people benefit from it.

Teaching

OK, I am going to confess something awful. I find teaching a real ego boost, all those innocent eyes looking like I am God almighty, taking what I say as the gosple. After I realized this, I was sorta disgusted with my own ego and peoples naivete. I read things posted by instructers and experts that I know aren't true. The antis are just as sure of them selves as the pros. I have to say I have real reservations about accepting all these nice reasons, but I do and I hope I am mistaken.

olafhardtB said:

OK, I am going to confess something awful. I find teaching a real ego boost, all those innocent eyes looking like I am God almighty, taking what I say as the gosple. After I realized this, I was sorta disgusted with my own ego and peoples naivete. I read things posted by instructers and experts that I know aren't true. The antis are just as sure of them selves as the pros. I have to say I have real reservations about accepting all these nice reasons, but I do and I hope I am mistaken.

Click to expand...

What do you mean?

I don't think I want to know what plafhardtB means.

If you are offended so be it. I have found teaching to be a great way to show off. And it is also an efficienr way to push any agenda you have. Have you encountered liberal teachers pushing their point of voew? I have found these tendancies in my self. I do try to tell others how to think and act even about things I don't know squat about. The question was " Why do you teach?" I gave some of my old reasons and while I am more reluctant to now. BTW I am not proud of this nor do I want to influence you all.

I saw just how crappy all too many instructors really are.