“I learned to swim at Camp Maqua, and for me it was a life altering event. Truly! When I went to camp, I was very frustrated that I could not swim. I couldn’t figure out why, since I was good at everything else I tried. I couldn’t do this. But, swimming, like most abilities at that time, was viewed mostly as some sort of innate ability. You either had it or you didn’t. All of the children I knew who could swim were never taught, and all of my family and friends seemed to feel I was just one of those people who would never learn to swim. It left me feeling powerless.
As a non-swimmer, I had to stay next to the dock in the shallow water. Now, my swimming instructor, who was probably a bit bored being stuck with the non-swimmers, seemed to share the “swimming is innate” attitude. She would have us hang on to the dock and practice our kick and our “rhythmic breathing” while she rubbed sun tan oil on and lay on the dock.
One day the swimming instructor was sick, or something, and we had a substitute. The sub told me to float, and of course I told her I couldn’t. What was she? Nuts or something? Didn’t she know it was innate? But, she just said,”Oh, of course you can!” and then she did the first thing that made all the difference. She got in the water with me!
She had me lay on my back in the water while she supported me with her hands. She told me to arch my back and put my head back. I realize now that is just a balancing act in the water, much like learning to ride a bike. But, for me, my center of gravity is such that I have to have my head very far back, with water actually up into my eyes. It was a little scary, but she just kept reassuring me and telling me to relax. Pretty soon I was almost falling asleep. It was so nice in the warm sum, with the sound of the water lapping on the shore. And then she said, “Okay. You’re floating” and I realized her hands were no longer under me.
Of course, I immediately panicked and went down, but I had experienced that feeling of balance. I couldn’t wait to try it again and by the end of the session I was able to go into a float on my own, on my back and on my stomach, and could add a kick and a few strokes and I was actually swimming. I was disappointed when the other instructor came back, but it really didn’t matter now. I knew what to do, and from there on in, it was simply a matter of practice.
This event shaped my attitudes towards teaching and learning for the rest of my life. I would eventually become a reading specialist with a doctorate in teacher education. I have often used this experience when doing teacher training to illustrate premises of instructional theory, task analysis, relinquishing of responsibility and practice effect, but always emphasizing that first you have to “get in the water” with your students.
The day I learned to swim was Friday, August 10, 1951. I know that because that is what I wrote in this letter home to my parents; “Mom, Dad! Just guess what! Today (Friday, August 19, 1951) I (Janet Sue Dixon) learned to do three things. 1. Float on my face. 2. Float on my back. 3. Swim. Yep! That’s right and I’m having a lot of fun doing it even if the horses aren’t so hot. Love, Janet. P.S. The food here is worth $60.”