i agree with with everyone on here - don't give up because of this idiot coach! if you really want to stay with group lessons, i suggest talking to others in the class and find out if they don't like this coach either. i had an incredibly bad coach when i started in group lessons, who obviously did not want to be with the adults. we all banded together and wrote e-mails and complained to the learn to skate director until she gave us a new coach. the adults and the bad coach were all much happier after that.

if you switch to private lessons with a good, encouraging coach, i think you will find you'll learn much faster. you get one-on-one help, and hopefully you build a rapport with someone who genuinely cares about your progress.

good luck to you!

I would be VERY careful and even recommend against that approach. THat could backfire and end up making you look bad. You could look like you were stirring up trouble, encouraging others to badmouth another coach, getting others involved in what is an issue between you and her ... not a good idea in most cases.

j

I have been through something a bit similar with a cello teacher. She was a very competent teacher, very knowledgeable etc. However I came away from lessons feeling bad about my cello playing, and hopeless about myself. Occasionally I came away inspired and elated, and that was what kept me going to this woman. I felt I ought to be able to learn from her.

In the end though, I just stopped wanting to play cello. Oddly enough, right about the time I started skating again. I found something that made me feel good about myself.

Skating is beautiful. You should come away feeling good about yourself. We all have frustrating days, when we wonder whether we will ever get it right, whether it is worth the time, money and energy. But the good days should outnumber the bad.

I too, wouldn't recommend "ganging up" on this coach. Others may relate to her really well. Find someone who you relate to well, someone who helps you feel good about yourself and your skating.

__________________
Karen

I skate - therefore I am

I quit playing the piano cuz of teachers like that. Which was a good choice to be honest, because I'm not the type to sit still.
But if you love skating, there's just no remedy to that except changing teachers if her style of teaching is to "put you down to make you work harder."