[agentgt]

It is ironic the author uses a swimming metaphor:

"If their instructors had focused on making them feel good about swimming, instead of on making them swim, they could have drowned."

Swimming is almost natural. Most mammals can swim with out training (even my cat knew how to swim). Fear on the other hand is what leads to drowning. You don't need formal training in swimming to stay a float. You need to not be afraid of the water.

On personal level for the downvoters as to why this is such a crappy metaphor is I know several adult family members that do not know how to swim and one of them my wife and just trained recently.... it required lots and lots of confidence boosting and reassuring.

So the instructor actually does need to make them "feel good" aka comfortable with the water.

The author could have picked so many other metaphors where state of mind plays less of a role.

[maxxxxx]

That's nonsense. As a kid I was not afraid of water. I could dive 10 meters down without fear. But I still couldn't swim without instruction.

[agentgt]

Maybe so. But the author says "drown" not swim. I presume you knew how to float if you weren't afraid of the water?

I have seen adults that refuse to take lessons because... because... they are afraid.

So regardless I still say it is pretty crappy metaphor.

[kofejnik]

I can only float (i.e. relax on my back doing nothing) in very salty seas, such as Aegean sea, and I absolutely cannot do it in fresh water. Despite it, my parents taught me to swim at 6, no way I'd be able to float before that.

[maxxxxx]

I didn't know how to float either.

[civilian]

You're an N of 1. When I was learning to swim I remember a lot of kids bawling their eyes out when first going into the pool.

[mjevans]

The floating thing and even treading water are more or less required education before you're let out of the shallow pool/end and in to the part where you can't stand on your own.

[gerbilly]

Most quadrupeds can swim because for them 'walking' in deep water is nearly the right way to swim.

Apes can't swim for the most part, and often drown. We are apes.