As always, the answer is in plain sight in the
PTS--the examiner is charged with evaluating whether the applicant can
do all of the selected manuevers and give EFFECTIVE instruction,
otherwise it is a fail.

I think the assertion that a CFI checkride (initial or add-on)
effectively evaluates the ability to instruct will not withstand close
scrutiny. Further, anyone who has flown with a variety of instructors
will know this is true - many of them can't really teach. In power,
the overwhelming majority can't teach - their reasons for becoming
CFI's have to do with airline career aspirations, and while most do try
to do a good job, they have neither the background nor the talent for
teaching. In soaring the situation is much better - most CFIG's
actually want to teach, and that's half the battle.

The syllabus I use in conducting CFI training is individually tailored.
I expect that an additional rating CFI would have a baseline to add to
while an initial instructor would not.

In reality, every syllabus in general aviation instruction (outside the
Part 141 environment) is individually tailored. However, it's a
mistake to believe that an additional rating CFI has an instructional
baseline to add to. He may or he may not, just as an initial CFI may
or may not. What the additional rating CFI really has is experience
with taking CFI checkrides. There is certainly a skill involved in
taking and passing a CFI checkride, but that skill is not teaching.

The assertion earlier that contest or diamond badge pilots are the best
instructors would not stand the scrutiny of a visit to the local field
on a race day. In many cases the behaviors exhibited in judgement,
knowledge and temperment are polar opposites to the requirements of
good flight instruction.

Of course. Clearly the last thing we want to do is to teach our
students the behaviors that work for the most skilled and capable
soaring pilots out there. In my experience, the most skilled and
capable pilot on the field is never an instructor. I always wondered
why that was, but I'm beginning to understand it now.

Michael