No, what I was implying was relatively straightforward, and perhaps slightly naive.
My classes start in a classroom. My classes start with lectures, and move on to demonstrations. Then my students handle first training weapons and then "safe" weapons, and finally weapons.
One at a time, with me, in the classroom. One at a time, so everyone can watch every mistake. With me, so I can make corrections that everyone can hear. In the classroom so I don't have to shout through hearing protection.
I wasn't implying that the students were going to make the same mistake over and over. I was implying that the instructor
IS making the same mistake. Over and over.
The overwhelming majority of students, in my experience, will take correction and apply it, provided it is given professionally.
If one of your students sweeps the line, it could be the student.
If it happens a second time, with another student, it's not the students.
Methods can be adjusted. Methods can be added. More time can be taken. Different approaches tried.
When one of my students sweeps the line, they do it with a blue gun, and everyone sees it. Not only does that student get corrected, but the entire class sees and hears it. Then they have two more chances to get it right before we move to the firing line. By the time we get to the firing line, no one is going to sweep the line, no one is going to throw their weapon downrange or any of the other drama I've been reading about.
That works for me.
I'd urge any instructor reading this to find a way that works for them. It's what we get paid to do.
Consider this list of facts:
- They can do anything we teach them to do.
- They will do anything we teach them to do.
- They're doing something wrong.
Now. Given that list, who and what really needs to change?
My answer is "not body armor".