So for the second time in three or four years, I've had a student surpass my abilities as a seamstress. It will take years before they catch up to my hours of experience, but having sewn in class for 45 minutes a day, 180 days a year for three years, PLUS whatever they do at home, these girls have left me in the dust. Technically, their skills far surpass mine. What is a teacher to do when posed with this dilemma?
I am taking a break from reading up on a subject I need to cover with one of these students tomorrow. Specifially, installing an invisible zipper. I've never done it. I guess I could figure it out, but even if I did, it would take a couple of tries to get it perfect. Not to mention master teaching it. My student has to put one in an EVENING GOWN. No chance for error, here. I started calling my seamstress friends to see who can help me out. We'll see where that leads....
Anyway, I guess it's high time I either decide to become a better seamstress, or stop raising the bar in class. I have the standards set higher every year, and every year kids keep jumping to them. Some won't, but they are the ones who jump for no one. I suppose it's time to raise the bar on myself.
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Well, raise the bar if you want to...visit the bar if you don't.
You know, I think it's the sign of a GREAT teacher when she recognizes that her students have surpassed her own abilities and should give herself a huge f***ing attagirl for being instrumental in getting them there.
Use your resources to help, teach them how to use the resources that are available if you haven't mastered whatever it is they are supposed to be doing. Don't worry about raising your standards or theirs. Keep working, keep learning, but ask yourself (before you spend lord knows how many hours mastering the invisible zipper techique) "Is this ultimately going to be worth the time or should I learn some other technique." For you (who may actually get to wear evening gowns once in a while) it may be worth it...for me (who is one of those work is floppy pants and slippers people and whose idea of a high-dollar outing is the yarn store), not so much!
Love you gal!
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