You are so right, Lady. Each student has his/her own talent (I believe God given). It is up to the teacher to give helpful hints, but the student will develop his own direction, if allowed (and encouraged.)
This style of teaching was not permitted when I majored in art at college. We all had to make our paper or canvas exactally like the professor’s or the student got less than good grades. IMHO, many talents were shattered in that workshop.
Tell me that was only a course or two.
It turns out to be fairy easy to let students develop their style. Once in a while I’m tempted and even blurted one out once, and retracted it instantly.
I was stopped in my tracks reading Cardy’s word for it, “nurturing,” is so perfect.
They can’t create if they haven’t explored and you can’t explore much when you’re forced to copy someone else.