Bad Teacher was a terrible film from the year 2011. We certainly don't recommend it, but the idea does lead us nicely into today's Checker Maven column.

LARNER TRIES TO TEACH

"This is the way," said Larner impatiently as he persisted in rapidly solving a problem without giving the boastful Skittle a trial.

Galileo once said, "You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself." How could Skittle learn without being permitted to make mistakes and then correct them?

Since 1775, due largely to the experiments of Johann Pestalozzi, the science of education has been based on problem solving or reasoning, rather than on memorizing. This Swiss educationalist combined manual with mental exercises. Teachers merely develop your latent power. You learn mainly by practice!

The preceding short selection is from Andrew J. Banks' eclectic book, Checker Board Strategy. It seems that Mr. Larner, whoever he was, is an example of a bad teacher. Is it true, for our game of checkers, that we learn mainly by practice, and that teachers merely develop our latent power?

That could be the subject of an extended and interesting debate. But for the moment, let's get some practice, with today's rather easy problem. It's really at the beginner level but more experienced players should see if they can solve it with just a quick glance.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W19,23,30:B10,12,26

Did you solve it rapidly? Did it provide any sort of useful practice? We surely don't have to teach you that you can click on Read More to verify your solution.

Solution

19-15 10-19, 23-16 12-19 30-16 White Wins.

Mr. Banks notes that this a familiar type of rebound stroke.

So is checkers all about practice? Our own opinion is that it's perhaps 50% study and 50% application. Good teachers (and good teaching in good books) can show us a lot that we wouldn't have found on our own or may not have encountered, or understood, in over the board play. But ultimately, study must be put into practice. Do write editor@checkermaven.com with your own thoughts.