Having been instructing for the last 10 years and been doing non-instructional flying for the 10 years before that I hope I have a balanced view of things! While JJ's choice of words was 'unfortunate' there do seem to be some very sensitive people out here. Instructing is a noble profession and all that. However, the career instructor who has gone from self-improver to instructor and never done any other flying has missed out on valuable experience that would make him a better instructor in the long run. The laws of learning talk about information sticking if it is associated with interesting experiences. The instructor who has a store of 'war stories' to illustrate his teaching is more likely to get the message across. I would recommend any young career instructor who's been in the business for a few years to go and get a non-instructional job - air taxi, air line, whatever. He/she can return to his/her first love a few years down the line with more to offer the students.
[This message has been edited by Stan Evil (edited 27 October 1999).]