Short version: how would you tell your daughter to prepare for becoming a CCW instructor?
My 22-year-old daughter has a healthy interest in self-defense, evidenced by her taking Krav Maga and the CCW class, getting a concealed carry license at 21, and carrying when she can. She's a good shot against stationary targets, and the two of us went to an IDPA meet once (with unimpressive results). Even discounting parental rose-colored glasses, I believe she's one of the clearest thinkers and most self-controlled people I know. However, both of us are relatively untrained - certainly by comparison with the folks here!
The two of use visited a local gunshop the other day and the proprietor asked if I knew any women who taught CCW classes. There is an upsurge in demand for classes for women in our area and a woman instructor may be less intimidating to raw newbie students. I presume that there is similar interest and need throughout the country.
Discussing the visit later, my daughter expressed an interest in becoming an instructor herself. She cited an author who said the best way to improve the school system would be to move teachers from their area of expertise to a new field, so they would 1) avoid assuming the student shared with them the same passion for the subject, 2) empathize with the student hitting something new, and 3) concentrate on the basics rather than the interesting non-essential topics that appeal to the expert. Thus she feels her lack of experience in the subject could actually be turned into a strength, and she would like to meet the needs for women wishing to have training. When my daughter is in town over vacations, folks could shoot on our farm, and when she's away at school there's a range a short drive away. In her college town she has a church family of several thousand, and the theology and conservative nature of the group suggests that a goodly percentage of the ladies there might be interested in such training. Call it a ministry, if you wish: the poor need soup kitchens and a whole lot of women need to carry.
I'm aware that there are costs associated with the training and liability insurance, but there's a much deeper question:
My thought is that a good teacher needs a curriculum and a boatload of good stories to tell to illustrate the points. The NRA would have the materials or they could be borrowed or purchased from another instructor. For storytelling, if I had a list of topics I'll bet I could assemble for her a great reading list from this forum (and my daughter is a voracious reader and can retrieve stored knowledge quite easily). But I recognize that I'm pretty close to the situation and have a very predictable ego involvement in wanting her to be an instructor.
So... reality check request:
My 22-year-old daughter has a healthy interest in self-defense, evidenced by her taking Krav Maga and the CCW class, getting a concealed carry license at 21, and carrying when she can. She's a good shot against stationary targets, and the two of us went to an IDPA meet once (with unimpressive results). Even discounting parental rose-colored glasses, I believe she's one of the clearest thinkers and most self-controlled people I know. However, both of us are relatively untrained - certainly by comparison with the folks here!
The two of use visited a local gunshop the other day and the proprietor asked if I knew any women who taught CCW classes. There is an upsurge in demand for classes for women in our area and a woman instructor may be less intimidating to raw newbie students. I presume that there is similar interest and need throughout the country.
Discussing the visit later, my daughter expressed an interest in becoming an instructor herself. She cited an author who said the best way to improve the school system would be to move teachers from their area of expertise to a new field, so they would 1) avoid assuming the student shared with them the same passion for the subject, 2) empathize with the student hitting something new, and 3) concentrate on the basics rather than the interesting non-essential topics that appeal to the expert. Thus she feels her lack of experience in the subject could actually be turned into a strength, and she would like to meet the needs for women wishing to have training. When my daughter is in town over vacations, folks could shoot on our farm, and when she's away at school there's a range a short drive away. In her college town she has a church family of several thousand, and the theology and conservative nature of the group suggests that a goodly percentage of the ladies there might be interested in such training. Call it a ministry, if you wish: the poor need soup kitchens and a whole lot of women need to carry.
I'm aware that there are costs associated with the training and liability insurance, but there's a much deeper question:
What do you all think she should do to prepare (or should she consider this at all)?
My thought is that a good teacher needs a curriculum and a boatload of good stories to tell to illustrate the points. The NRA would have the materials or they could be borrowed or purchased from another instructor. For storytelling, if I had a list of topics I'll bet I could assemble for her a great reading list from this forum (and my daughter is a voracious reader and can retrieve stored knowledge quite easily). But I recognize that I'm pretty close to the situation and have a very predictable ego involvement in wanting her to be an instructor.
So... reality check request:
- If it's a good idea but could be improved, how would you counsel us?
- If this is a stupid idea, how could it be turned into a good thing?
- If the idea is altogether ridiculous, well, it's better I hear it from friends...