Hi, are you the Teacher?
Before we get to the actual entry for the day– Merry Christmas to all of y’all that are celebrating this weekend! = )
I wrote a post a while back about class manners and some pointers on things that we should all, as students, keep in mind to maintain a happy and fun class environment. Because we are all indirectly responsible for the positive vibe in a class, and making sure that we all have as great of a class experience as possible.
One of the things that I touched on back then was the idea that if you are taking class, no matter who you are outside of that hour or two, you are there as a student. You should not be trying to teach anyone else. For one, it’s a liability issue for the studio: they aren’t insuring you and cannot be responsible for what you choose to tell someone else to try or do. Secondly, it’s incredibly disrespectful to the teacher. But a third reason that I didn’t mention, is: it can be disrespectful to the person that you are trying to “teach”, especially (!!) if they haven’t asked for your “help.”
This happens a lot. You might be completely well-intentioned, and you might be seeing someone do something simple that if they would just fix, they would nail the trick. It can be really tough—I mean, I would always be grateful for a correction from someone, even a stranger, because hey—I’m not too proud to get feedback and if it helps me to be a better poler, then I’m all for it. With friends, or people who I regularly share poles with, I’d like to think I know what kind of honesty to have with someone and when to volunteer feedback. I try to do it in a way that isn’t disruptive to the class, and if I know the instructor is coming around I’d rather they come and offer advice then butt in myself.
It’s all about intention. There’s a difference between wanting to genuinely HELP someone, and wanting to feel better then them or gaslighting them. Wanting to feel superior, or put them in their place by showing them exactly what they’re doing badly. There’s a difference between being a positive influence and a negative one. Are you “teaching” or are you just pointing out things that aren’t perfect? And keep in mind—class should be a safe place to make mistakes, and mess up—because you’re learning NEW THINGS!
Next time you feel words of constructive criticism ready to bubble out, think really carefully about how those words will impact the classmate you are going to say them to. And if you have any doubts about whether or not you should—well, don’t worry, the teacher’s making their rounds, and will be at your pole shortly.
Monday’s post: Patience…
Aint nothing worse then a student teaching another student how to do something wrong… the blind leading the blind is what i call it. When i am a student i ask my pole buddy to see if there is anything wrong if im not sticking a trick… and ill do the same if they ask if not i just say keep cheering them on! good article!!
Agreed, it raises the hair on the back of my neck whether I’m teaching or taking class. Eeek! Usually the worst offenders don’t realize that they’re not actually being helpful, unfortunately!
In our advanced classes we are taught to spot each other and so sometimes when we are paired off on running a trick, we do get to give each other notes, I feel. It’s a supportive environment so I think its done in the spirit of being supportive and of course the instructor gets the final word when she gets to our pole! I do always think twice about how I give my note because of the things you’ve mentioned in this blog entry, Amy…our nice learning environment is something to treasure, not accidentally sabotage!
I think that in advanced levels in particular, this kind of relationship works: we trust one another and we need spotters to try some of the daredevil new things we’re working on. It’s great that you have a supportive, healthy pole environment– hold that close!!
Thanks for putting this topic out there! I am a instructor at a studio that is open concept. We let students wait for there next class in the same room and they often feel that they are allowed to help/ teach if someone is not getting something when I’m assisting someone else. This has got to be my biggest pet peeve because 99% of the time they don’t know what they’re talking about and the student feels frustrated or uncomfortable.
Yikes Andrea, that sounds like a tough environment to maintain the right kind of control in. Generally– culture like this trickles down. If the owner/lead instructor allows it, then it’s okay for everyone. If you feel comfortable bringing it up with someone in a position of authority, I would! Safety first!!
This is exactly why i practice separately from my class – to critique myself. When in class, the teacher is the teacher for a reason and where we can all ask questions. Besides…perfect points, perfect leg position isn’t always the most
I’ve found that very few people are as self-motivated as you are, it’s a wonderful trait to have and it definitely makes it easier to do self-study. I agree– perfection isn’t the goal in class, and it’s a shame when people lose sight of that!!
Whoops……darn phone. What I was about to say is that YOUR perfect point or form is not necessarily someone else’s perfect form. While something is easy for me and natural, my body dynamics may actually hurt you. Besides….every body in motion is beautiful when you feel it. I take classes b/c I like someone to take me through methods I likely may not try myself.
And merry christmas!
I know that I am a person who puts WAY too much thought into things. There are times when someone in class looks over, and asks me to repeat a step that the teacher has explained, or tips as to how I got something together, and it makes me kind of uncomfortable to try to explain it to them. I feel compelled to answer their question or request, but I have the feeling that the instructor may think that I’m attempting to “take over”. That leaves me feeling strange throughout the duration of the class
You’re humble and considerate in so many ways and this comment just proves it. Give your teacher a little credit– they probably know you, and know where you’re coming from =)