I Think I'm a Bad Teacher

I'm not sure if Ricki reads over here, but today I just got really frustrated with a co-worker/subordinate from an educational point of view and maybe she's seen it before in her students. I trained this person on our program about 18 months ago, and at a certain point the person decided my tutoring wasn't needed anymore b/c it was all taken as personal criticism when I offered a correction or tried to figure out exactly what had happened with a problem by asking questions. (Jeez, I have to get some background information so I don't give the wrong advice--I'm not questioning anybody, per se.) I get concerned, though, when this person comes to me with a question that if the person had taken the time to think it through, could have gotten it, especially when it involves basic information that we use day to day. I think. Honestly, I'm not sure. This person doesn't seem capable of applying information from one area to another, or broad rules in general. For example, this person will go along just fine in one section of a document, but then when the same comment comes up in a different section, it's something foreign even though it's treated the same way as in the other section. Same rules! It scared the heck out of me that this person just didn't seem to see the general rule underlying all of our work. (And, um, unfortunately, I let my shock show a bit. But really, I'm worried.)

Is that possible, to have that sort of disconnect? If so, how do I get through? If not, is it just an unwillingness to take time to think and the must-have-answer-now-spoonfeed-me attitude? I just really am not sure an 18-month learning curve is acceptable. Even a year was a stretch for me, but our manager insisted that was normal. I know there's a "who cares as long as the work is done" feeling but this kind of unthinking work will only go so far. If a new/different situation comes up and you can't expand your knowledge. . . and I'm not around to fix it. . . that seems like a bad thing.