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by clarionite
Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:29 pm
Forum: Instructors' Corner
Topic: Instructors; Failing students
Replies: 13
Views: 3432

Re: Instructors; Failing students

jbarn wrote: I assume you are referring here to the written test. I should have been more clear, sorry. I have been teaching for a decade, and taught well over 1k students. I have not had anyone fail the written test, either.
I guess it is. But I guess the distinction I'm making is that I wouldn't feel as if I were failing the student, and I would make sure the student were aware that it wasn't me. There is a baseline set by the state. I cover it multiple times in my material.
jbarn wrote: Do you teach groups or individuals? Do you teach a range that takes care of sign ups, payments, classroom and the range?

I just recently moved from teaching 95% for ranges to 100% individuals and small groups where we go to the range just to shoot. I find these smaller groups much more conducive to working with students on the range.

I have had only a handful of people fail to qualify on the first attempt, and only one who did not pass on the second attempt. He happened to fail all three attempts. He received 2 private lessons between the first and second attempt from two different instructors. He just would not listen and take instruction.
I mainly teach small groups. The largest so far was 18, and I used another RSO to help me keep an eye on things at the range. I really don't like groups that large, and I think in the future I'd split that into two classes.

The biggest issue I've seen so far has been people spending more for the box of ammo than for the gun. Cheap guns that are new and haven't been broken in aren't very reliable on the range. Students with these guns also seem to not understand that malfunctions are to be cleared and missed shots count against them per the rules handed down by the state. The few that I've had come close to failing have been for this reason. The course of fire is so simple that someone who's never fired a gun before could pass if they pay attention to the materials covered before hand.
by clarionite
Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:04 pm
Forum: Instructors' Corner
Topic: Instructors; Failing students
Replies: 13
Views: 3432

Re: Instructors; Failing students

jbarn wrote:Instructors; what, other than not shooting a passing score, would you or have you failed a student for? Besides shooting the instructor lol

Do you have a point where you simply tell the person to stop and fail them for say....inability to work the handgun, repeatedly? How about continued malfunctions? Negligent Discharges? Muzzeling someone, etc?

Are these standards different for you when handling groups as opposed to individuals?
As an instructor, I don't fail a student. They can not reach the passing score in proficiency or written exam. If they are having issues being able to work the handgun, and don't fire enough rounds to reach the required score in the time allotted, then I'll work with them to address those issues before they're allowed to make another attempt to qualify. I've never had someone even come close to not reaching a passing score on the exam. And I'd take it as a personal failure if someone did. That would mean I hadn't covered the material well enough for them to understand, and had not noticed someone was struggling with the material that badly.

I would however remove someone from the firing line for a safety violation. But this wouldn't be me failing the student.

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