Last week i've had a chat with a Suzuki teacher overseas. It repeated a topic which i had heard many times from instrumental teachers. It was about children quitting and the way the message is being delivered to the teacher.
Sometimes parents just send a text message to say: "we are going to stop". Sometimes the message comes a day or two before the term/semester/year starts, and after the parents had already secured their place in the studio. Sometimes an email, short and not saying much : " We've decided to stop". i had this experience a few times too; i know the feeling and i'll dare to share. i would like to talk on behalf of Suzuki teachers (at least the ones i talked to about this subject), as this is my tribe of teachers. I'd guess the same happens in other areas of instrumental teaching. We Suzuki teachers, do not teach only music. Suzuki Way is a holistic approach towards children education, and as such, we teach the child how to be, how to learn, how to live. We accompany the family throughout the many years; usually from very early years of childhood until children mature and finish high school ( and sometimes later). The families become close to our heart. The child becomes very important in our life, and so are we in the the child's life. I understand that parents sometimes decide to stop. This is their prerogative. But please - don't just notify us. Talk to us. See if there's anything we can help (and many times we can). If you already made up your mind - please tell us the reason and don't leave on a vague cloud. Let us know the truth. If you decided to go to another teacher - tell us. If you decided that you don't like the way we teach - tell us. If you don't want to commit any longer - tell us. And please don't do it in the last minute. Give us enough notice to fill in your time slot. Any other way leaves us hurt and confused. Open communication is what we need , so we can genuinely bless you on your decision(even if we don't agree).
2 Comments
Catherine
5/2/2018 02:27:33 am
Exactly! Going through this right now with a student I've taught for 4.5 years.
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Dear Catherine, it's so surprising that after years of heart connection, a parent might find a "strange" and way to find relationships. From the feedback of my trainees and colleagues i'm realising that it happens a lot. It makes teachers wonder where was this all the time when things went well. And how could it change so abruptly? I believe that's why it hurts.
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