where did DIR go

[scubert]

you are missing one point though that I tried to make earlier.

An incredibly skilled and experienced individual does NOT necessarily mean that they make a good teacher.  All the knowledge in the world doesn't confer the ability to break down that knowledge into blocks needed to transfer that knowledge to others.

to use your examples:
music teacher:

a) this teacher MAY be better for those starting out on the recorder (OWD) as they practice and are probably fluent in breaking down those basics to the new student (probably not a trimix student, but they wouldn't be teaching that either, as most instructors aren't), whereas...

b) MAY be too far along in their career and have too many demands on their time to stop and teach the basic fingerings of the recorder to a new student (gear setup and mask clearing)

or as a flight instructor:

a) probably NOT someone I'd what to teach me, but we all have to start somewhere I guess.

b) again, sounds like this guy has lots of irons in the fire.  Does he have time to tell me what that funny flap on the back part of the plane, you know the part... it sort of sticks up... like a tail, kinda,  does.  You are assuming that because they are skilled and have LEARNED a lot that they are automatically a good TEACHER.

I've had professors who were genius in their field, but couldn't explain the concepts to others.  Or were just plain BAD teachers (ie, no patience, little ability to look back and remember what entering their field felt like, overly rigid adherance to THEIR theories with no room for discussion).

While the idea of a skilled, practicing, expert in the field who is also a great educator is one that we would all hope to have as an instructor, those people are NOT on every street corner, in ANY field.