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What does everyone think of an instructor who refuses to use a very good textbook that is issued to the class; who, instead, relies on an outdated textbook that only he has access to?

The class is kinesiology--hands on. I understand that to learn movement, and how to isolate and palpate joint mobilizers, the instruction must be hands-on, primarily oral instruction. However, this instructor takes the oral part to extremes. Everything is oral, exams, everything. Oral, with nothing to rely on but our memories of how his version of a joint movement was performed.

The issued textbook is Trail Guide to the Body by Andrew Beil, an excellent and expensively illustrated textbook, replete with DVD, flashcards, and online access to videos, etc. But the instructor snarls, "I don't like the illustrations it uses." Instead, he uses--for his own use, he won't allow us to even glance through it--is Muscle Testing: Techniques for Manual Examination, the 1986 edition; its illustrations are small, hand drawn in black and white. We know this only because my classmates and I did glance through it when he stepped out of the classroom. As the textbook is spiral-bound and thin, he could easily open it flat in a copy machine and make hand-outs as we need them for study. Instead, he rushes through, all oral and visual, no chance to write notes--certainly not enough time for us to sketch the movements as he does them. As a result, a class of high achievers (ten of us, all 4.0 last quarter) have a class average in this one class of 70. Heck of a thing, we're all having to learn kinesiology in spite of him. When we scored so badly, he said, "Nobody studied." As a class, we replied that we found it difficult to study what's inside his head.

Well, in order to pass this course, we've been forced as individuals to buy the textbook he uses. It's still available, but up to $162 new; I found a used copy for under $10, but won't receive it for three weeks or so...near the end of the school quarter.

Well, I've got the gripe off my chest. Now a question: am I wrong to be upset? I am studying massage therapy and bodywork; I didn't know that I'd be penalized for not being a public speaker. Like, I suspect, many of you, I am an introvert, fine with a small, informal group, and great when it comes to explaining the benefits of massage to potential clients, but crippled mentally when I have to speak publicly into the judgmental eyes of a classroom and an instructor who has only his own interests at heart.

I am buckling down, I have designed my own study system (using the assigned textbook and illustrated materials). According to him, the only acceptable way to perform shoulder lateral flexion is from the shoulder horizontal. I know better: I've been a certified personal trainer for two decades--so I do know joint movement, and the accepted terminology. Sigh. It's frustrating.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paula Urquhart on January 27, 2011 at 7:10pm

I'm a massage therapy student and I'm studying Deep Tissue. Our school, Spa Tech Institute, gives us some of the best books. We got Trail Guide to the Body. It is by far the best book for anatomy I've ever seen. Im sorry that you have an instructor like that. Is he a massage therapist himself? Our teachers are all LMT's and they have their own practices or work for a spa. I would buy the Trail Guide if I were you. It is amazing and well worth the money.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Adams on January 28, 2011 at 10:23am

I had my own issues with our kines teacher and am suffering the consequences. I suggested to the school that in addition to learning the names of the muscles and their OIA's that at the same time we should be learning pathology and the stretches to improve the conditions common to specific muscles and muscle groups. That would be a hands on learning aid for those of us who have a hard time just memorizing text on pages and making them fit in with real life scenarios. Kines was my ONLY B in the entire curriculum and I have 7 weeks left. That in and of itself shows that something needs to change.

BTW Our teachers teach from trailguides but we were issued a different more modern book. It is pretty, but I would much rather have had the trailguides book.

Permalink Reply by Ariana Vincent, LMT, MTI, BCTMB on February 23, 2011 at 2:04pm

Dear Gary - I hope that you are able to glean the information you need from the kinesiology course, despite the obstacles placed before you. I love Beil's Trail Guide. It sounds like you are intelligent, motivated, and articulate. I appreciate the fact that you have created your own study system. Sometimes we learn from other people "what not to do." When it comes your turn to teach, you will have learned that great lesson. I can imagine that you will design your own class in a way that is in harmony with your vision of the best learning environment for all concerned. Thank you for externalizing your feelings. We hear and feel your justified frustrations. If you want to voice your concerns to the school administrators and to your state massage board director, that may effect some change for future generations of students. Oral exams cannot be reviewed by the state board, so it is surpriseing that the state board allows that; however, each state has its own rules and regulations. Best wishes to you in the completion of this particular course and in your massage practice. Warmly, Ariana Vincent, Ariana Institute

Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on February 23, 2011 at 3:48pm

Ariana, I proudly report that my new study method seems to be working. Despite two quiz test grades in the 70s, I just scored 97 on the midterm exam!

I know that my complaint sounded like sour grapes--and, yes, that is partly true. I am a perfectionist, proud of my mind. I want to kick myself for any test grade less than 100: 4.0 last quarter, a 99 average on three of this quarter's classes (including a 100 on the 140-question anatomy & physiology midterm). So, my low scoring in the PK class was disheartening. This forum provided an opportunity to vent my frustration.

I still disagree with this instructor's teaching methodolgy. But he is the instructor, he already has the expertise; it's my job to learn. The sources available through massage professionals are an immense help. The wonderful thing I've discovered about my new profession is the generosity. Even those whose primary income these days derives from CE courses freely share their expertise in youtube videos and free webinars, and in magazine articles for which they don't receive a lot of money. My new friend Ariana is among that august few. Thank you, Ariana.

Hey, I must be learning something-- one of my instructors fell asleep while I was giving him a massage yesterday!

= Gary

Permalink Reply by Jeannine Wheeler on May 12, 2011 at 5:00pm

I feel for you! My kines teacher used trail guides but taught oral and couldnt come down to our level. He used to be a medic in the Navy. He's wicked smart but cant relate to us. We had to teach ourselves. Thank God for that awesome book/workbook! The teacher would get frustrated when the class didnt do well on a test. Then he would draw on the (white) board, he is good too, and we would all get it. Then when we did well on the test he went back to the lecture approach. We barely did hands on w/ him. We palpated a bit then had a hands on TEST!!! OMG I was so stressed! And we also did the whole book in 5 weeks!!!

We found stuff online....there is a REAL video site that dissects a body and shows all the muscles and attachments!!

Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on May 12, 2011 at 5:47pm

Mine doesn't do much lecture, it's all oral, hands on...mvmts & ROM. Wicked the first few weeks of the first qtr with him. BUT we did adapt. Happy to report that I finished that first qtr with a 91--and this qtr, I'm leading the class with a 98. In the midterm, more than half the class scored a perfect 100.

So, redfaced, I admit the likelihood that my difficulty with him in the class may have been my fault all along. My background as a personal trainer may have shut me down a bit, if you know what I mean. His choice of mvmts conflicted with exercise mvmts, but once I laid my notions aside, and developed my own method of studying the material as he presented it, the info took hold.