Training or Supervision
Since the thread is titled ‘the rubbish taught by flying instructors’ I’m wondering which schools teach their students to fly low orbits on finals. I would suggest none. Orbits may work in a controlled environment but if the circuit is busy and an orbit is executed it may lead to some other traffic conflict that the ‘orbiter’ has failed to assess.
Perhaps many of the bad practices revealed in this thread are self taught after leaving the flying school. Surprising how lack of supervision will lead to poor airmanship. I think too many of us are out to shoot down the instructor, perhaps the finger should be pointed at chief pilots and company check pilots. I know a lot have little or no instructional experience and this may lead to some missing supervisory skills. It seems there is more of a decline in standards after leaving the school rather than a development of sound operating techniques when established on the line.