Just replying on another post made me think how lucky I am to have such wonderful pupils and parents who work with me , working with me when shuffling lessons around, understanding how the system works, truly wanting the best for their children, paying on time and horrified at the thought of paying late, offering to pay for missed lessons.



To the annoying ones...I just think of my 'nice' parents.

What a nice thread! Sometimes as a nice parent (I hope!) one can feel a bit undervalued!

Absolutely! I appreciate the understanding and reliable parents/students 100%. I made sure to include that in the email I sent (as mentioned in the other thread).

It is a shame that it's the very few unreliable and frustrating parents/students that are usually mentioned in this forum (but thus is human nature I guess!), so this is a great idea for a thread!

Thank you jellybean and ymapazagain for this pleasant thread. I also hope that I am one of the nice parents.

I would also like to say I feel extremely grateful to have two excellent teachers for my daughter and can't tell you how much I value them.

Yes - good thread. I have a "good" set of parents too, and feel for those teachers who sometimes have problems with parents in some way. (I have had a couple in the past, but for various reasons they took themselves off without me having to lift a finger! )

When we have our annual concert, I often thank the parents for being helpful and "good" generally in supporting their children.

Hear hear - my son's teachers are all great, and I really appreciate what they do for him. They have really put themselves out to help him, and give him extra lessons when necessary. They all work very hard too.

As a teacher, I'm as fortunate as jellybean Very rarely do I have to moan about my parents, except for maybe trying to stop one mother comparing her child to Lang Lang! Lang Lang practises for hours on end- your child doesn't!

Many thanks to all good parents everywhere.

That is actually quite funny!

I just can't believe the audacity of people who don't pay, I just can't get my head around it!

As for understanding how the system works, well that is not the parents job to know but the teachers job to impart this knowledge on them. So that's a pat on the back to yourself Jellybean.

Thanks FullofWind!

Yep, got a pretty good set of parents if I think about it. When they , on the very rare occasion forget cheques e.t.c. they always make a special trip to me with profuse apologies.

So, with the sun shining, and me in a good mood, it makes sense to to be positive about the majority!

I suppose it only the problem ones we ask for advice on on the forums so it may seem like we're complaining all the time.

So thank you to the majority once again. It's great to see a pupil progress, gives a buzz to me, especially to the pupil and to the parent. Makes it all worthwhile. Job satisfaction.

I seem to be quite lucky with my set of parents too
And they mostly seem quite happy with the idea of lessons through the summer - which means we can eat

...and the pupils progress really well during the summer I think. It's usually more relaxed without exams and they learn to enjoy their instrument even more!

This year I teach 35 children from 20 different families. I used to work for an association but this arrangement came to grief after 19 years. It was all very upsetting and the choice in the end was either dump my teaching methods and conform to a new system and give up the AB exams. It was several of the parents who asked me if I would consider going independent. They had been informed by the association about the new regulations and the new way of working but didn?t feel happy with it. Becoming self employed was a risk for me but our local representative was very supportive and said that the relationship with the parents would be stronger if I decided to go it alone.

I have not regretted it for one moment. I told everyone that if they decided to stay with the association I would not shut the door and I would not criticise their choice in any way ? we would remain on good terms. In the event only one family left me and that was because the pupil wanted to change instruments - which was a good choice for him.

This year everyone has been very supportive. I have had a couple of late payers each term but I think it was genuine forgetfulness because the system for paying changed slightly. I have got to know the parents much better.

I was a bit worried about the end of year concert. In the past we started around seven or seven thirty because the president of the association and the guitar teacher whose pupils used to join with mine could never come earlier. The programme was too long. Lots of people with young children simply couldn?t stay right to the end. After the concert there was a drink and a piece of cake provided by the association. This year I sent round a questionnaire asking parents for new ideas about the organisation and for volunteers to help.

Four fathers have volunteered to carry the piano from the primary school over to the lycee where we have the use of the canteen for the occasion. The mothers have all volunteered to bring a contribution to a buffet after the concert and they have asked if we could start much earlier so that everyone can stay to the end. If it?s fine they will organise the buffet out on the lawn and if not in the canteen

I just think the parents have been really, really great this year.

Most people are reasonable and only want what's best for the child be they parent or teacher. There will always be times when relationships don't work and the faults can be on either or both sides and sometimes it's not anyones actual fault.

I suspect one of daughters teachers thinks I'm unreasonable but the good relationships I have with the others more than makes up for that. Unfortunately the slight clash was caused by someone elses behaviour and in a sense we are both paying the price for that. All but one does everything they can to support daughter and I'm very grateful for that.

I agree - most of my families are lovely and would not dream of messing me about. I tend to post when problems arise because I'm working on my own, and appreciate the support of some understanding colleagues. It really helps to know that I'm not the only one who has had this or that bad experience. Because of this forum, I now have a healthier perspective, take set backs less personally, and appreciate that the occasional bumpy ride goes with the territory. Thank you forum!

Totally agree Norway. I feel the same. The forums are very helpful!