Recently, I visited an online forum in which people  were insisting on credentials for those of us who teach ghost-related topics.

The most amusing post insisted that teachers must first be taught by another, qualified teacher.   That’s fine… when there are teachers to start with.  However, that line of logic falls short when one reaches a time period in which there were no official teachers.

When I was in school, it was still illegal to be a Witch in England.  Open study or belief in paranormal topics were met with harsh disapproval.  In a Pleasantville-like world that taught with “Dick and Jane” books, ghost research was usually cloaked in the term folklore. I still rely on that word in very conservative settings.

So, I’m not certain how many actual paranormal teachers could be found, prior to the 1980s at least.  (The 1562 anti-witchcraft law was reversed in 1983.  Likewise, it became a little more acceptable to have paranormal interests.)

If no one can teach a subject unless he or she had previously studied with a teacher, we might still believe that the world is flat.  Fields such as computer hardware and software would have no instructors.  We’d have no classes in quantum science; someone had to be the first person to teach it.

Yes, I am being sarcastic, but I think you see my point.

The question of credibility is important.  When I join public ghost investigations, I sometimes see team leaders demonstrating techniques that make me wince.  I’ve witnessed obviously false seances, and “trance mediums” who perform to attract attention.

If professionals — those of us who’ve earned a living in this field for many years — are scorned as teachers, aspiring students will be forced to learn from novices and people whose motivations aren’t related to advancing the field.

It’s not just about diplomas and certification.  It’s about sharing useful knowledge that helps this field move forward.  Without that, we may never reach the point of scientific proof of paranormal phenomena.

There are no easy answers to this issue, but I believe that a flawed system is better than none at all.

Until there is a credible way to verify someone’s skill and knowledge in paranormal fields, the free market will determine the value of the teacher.

Frankly, that may be the best measure.   The person who takes a ghost hunting class for the certificate of completion will have different standards than someone who wants detailed instruction in EMF measurement.

Personal recommendations are often the best way to estimate the merits of a teacher or a course… in any field.

At Hollow Hill, I offer free courses.  They show my approach to ghost hunting.  Graduates may learn enough to begin independent study of ghosts and haunted places.

Others students choose to take my in-person or other courses.  The free courses show whether it’s worth paying to learn more from me.

That may not meet the standards of some people, but — for now — it’s the best system that I can think of.

Your constructive comments and suggestions are welcomed.