schools squeezing on piano lesson times Options

[jackieja366]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) I teach piano/keyboard privately and at various schools through a Music Service. One of my secondary schools has just informed me that in September I am to teach pupils in pairs not 1:1 as before, and they have cut my time by 30 minutes to teach the same number of pupils. Now I am quite used to teaching pairs or small groups at primary level, where there are enough beginners to group children by similar ability. However, at this secondary school the pupils are all at different stages working towards graded exams. I've told the School that I could not deliver quality lessons in this way, and tried to compromise on the time available, but I've just been told the budget will not stretch any more. I feel really unhappy about this - in effect I'm expected to teach 4 exam pupils in 1 hour - and put in all the extra planning and administration in my own time. I feel like quitting this school but I don't want to let the children down. I have a waiting list for my private lessons so could easily take on extra work Am I being inflexible or are they expecting too much?? Help!

[fsharpminor]

I'd quit and take on more private pupils. You shouldn't to succumb to those pressure tactics.

[maggiemay]

No, you are not being inflexible. They have absolutely no idea of what's involved in teaching for exams.
I wouldn't feel able to do this either.

[moondad]

If they won't budge on this, I would consider deferring the exam dates by a term, if I were you.

[Mae H]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) I teach piano/keyboard privately and at various schools through a Music Service. One of my secondary schools has just informed me that in September I am to teach pupils in pairs not 1:1 as before, and they have cut my time by 30 minutes to teach the same number of pupils. Now I am quite used to teaching pairs or small groups at primary level, where there are enough beginners to group children by similar ability. However, at this secondary school the pupils are all at different stages working towards graded exams. I've told the School that I could not deliver quality lessons in this way, and tried to compromise on the time available, but I've just been told the budget will not stretch any more. I feel really unhappy about this - in effect I'm expected to teach 4 exam pupils in 1 hour - and put in all the extra planning and administration in my own time. I feel like quitting this school but I don't want to let the children down. I have a waiting list for my private lessons so could easily take on extra work Am I being inflexible or are they expecting too much?? Help!

I think you should leave and concentrate on your private teaching. The pupils are being let down by the school, not by you.

[Little Elf]

something a bit similar happened to one of my friends. She left the school but ended up teaching mostly the same students because they came for private lessons instead.

Go for it. They are being unreasonable.

[Scaramouche]

I agree that it's not an ideal situation and in terms of your own interest etc you are probably better off leaving. However, some need to understand that schools are currently in quite a difficult situation, particularly regarding music with so much funding being cut. I'm still waiting on news of whether the instrumental/vocal tuition I have increased this year (to the immense benefit of the pupils) will continue in September. The school may have had to make a hard decision in cutting the time (I don't know the school so am guessing).

It's a difficult situation for everyone and unfortunately its the pupils that ultimately lose out, which is not exactly what education means to me.

[Crotchetymum]

Have you had any feedback from your pupils or their parents about this? I would imagine that they won't be very happy either - particularly those working towards exams - you may find you have some support from them in this very difficult situation.

[allegro2011]

Most of my teaching is private but I had been teaching at the local secondary (13-18 here) until last year. I'm afraid I quit over a similar thing. I was expected to get complete beginners in year 10 (piano and flute) to grade 3 standard for GCSE in 30 minute shared lessons. After a term of getting nowhere, as I had expected, I gave up...

[Mad Tom]

Most of my teaching is private but I had been teaching at the local secondary (13-18 here) until last year. I'm afraid I quit over a similar thing. I was expected to get complete beginners in year 10 (piano and flute) to grade 3 standard for GCSE in 30 minute shared lessons. After a term of getting nowhere, as I had expected, I gave up...

One wonders how people that are supposed to be experts in education and learning can know so little about the development of musical skills.

[icklechick]

I understand the frustration - but music services are struggling - and I fear will soon be no more.


So quit while you're ahead and build up private pupils. I got a phone call from a school asking if I was available to teach at their school from September (I'm not...I'm having a baby instead!), because the local music service had increased their fees from a heavily subsidised ?11 an hour to ?25 an hour. It's not the music services fault - they've lost about ?800,000 from the council (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Aquarelle]

Many years ago at the beginning of my career I would have stayed and kidded myself I could do the impossible. But experience does bring some wisdom and a bit more humility. My advice now would be to leave the school.

However, I would contact all the families and give them your reasons and if possible take on the pupils privately. Can you do it charging the same as they paid the school? That might not be possible and if not and you might lose some pupils whose parents can't or won't pay more. So those pupils will lose out - but then they do anyway under the new system at the school.

[Hedgehog]

Many years ago at the beginning of my career I would have stayed and kidded myself I could do the impossible. But experience does bring some wisdom and a bit more humility. My advice now would be to leave the school.

However, I would contact all the families and give them your reasons and if possible take on the pupils privately. Can you do it charging the same as they paid the school? That might not be possible and if not and you might lose some pupils whose parents can't or won't pay more. So those pupils will lose out - but then they do anyway under the new system at the school.

I agree with Aquarelle, having struggled in an unreasonable position in a school for a term before calling an end to it.

I just wonder whether schools are cutting back on other activities, such as sport etc as well as music. I have no info on such things, but it would be interesting to know.

[maggiemay]

It would indeed.

[onion]

I just wonder whether schools are cutting back on other activities, such as sport etc as well as music. I have no info on such things, but it would be interesting to know.

The school I work in has lost its funding for the school sports coordinator who used to provide lots of extra curricular activities for all our students. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) and that's on top of all the careers advisers, youth workers and others who have lost their jobs. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)