If you want money I don't get it ! If it's privacy -e-mail your reply Everything always comes down to money- it's a discussion board - what could we need to hide- if it's that secret don't write it

Well, like I say to the parents who complain about my policies. "You have a choice. It's my studio, and I'll run it the way I choose to with the best interest of the majority in mind. If you do not want to pay my prices, or you don't like my policies- then plain and simple, don't take dance here" Same thing goes here. If you don't want to pay the $10 or get voted in, then you don't have to. You still have the option to post in the Ask A Teacher forum which isn't busy now but will be after the mods rearrange the site a little. It's not that big of a deal. One forum for people who don't mind talking about everything out in the open and one forum for people who feel that their privacy is worth $10. You just choose which is best for you. I think it's a great compromise.

From my experience with the Studio Owners board that went private, it is a great thing and well worth the one time $10 payment. At first I was annoyed having to pay for access, but until I did, I used the "Ask an Owner" board. I still had many responses to my questions. There are lots of questions there and the majority of topics that don't really need to be kept private are posted there so everyone can see them and reply to them. But there are some things that should be private, so you don't want just anyone to know about, so it's posted on the Studio Owner board, which is private. Having the ability to keep things private have, in my opinion, allowed us to post additional threads that we were afraid to before because of who could see. I think a private teachers board would have a similar effect in getting teachers to post more "in depth" threads because they don't have to worry about who will read them.

I have a question, are they talking about a one time $10 fee, or a fee of $10 a month? I thought it was $10 a month. If it is that, I probably won't be able to pay it, like someone else said, not too many rich dance teachers. But if it was a one-time fee of $10, or maybe even $25, that is more reasonable. At least we can write the expense off.

I think the Studio Owners going private was a great idea, and love that the teachers only will be doing the same thing. KUDOS LINH!

Jamie

I believe it's a one time fee of $10.

I believe I have added quite a few valuable comments over the years on this site.

I did not pay for the studio owners.... I will not pay for the teachers only.I have been a teacher for over 16 years and a studio owner for 13 years.

I do not pay to be a part of any chat board, and feel it is a shame it has come to this.($10 is not a lot of money, it is the principle)I have alot of dance teacher and studio owner friends
with whom I chat with regularly any way.

I have enjoyed the past few years, but Like all good things this to I guess , must come to an end.

Enjoy your new venture and I wish you well!

I'm a newer member, yet I check the site numerous times a day, but I will not pay the $10 fee. There are other sites to visit for free and exchange information. Thanks for everyones help I've already received. Definatly sad about this decision.
Bunnygirl

I think it should be kept open, because you shoudln't have to pay to write on a msg board, and it's also interesting and helpful for students to read teachers disucssions and understand their point of veiw and purpose. This could be done through Ask a teacher, but all the interesting stuff will end up on teacher's Only though.

Sounds like a plan to me! Whatever will help the site is great!

I think a private board is a very good idea! There are so many thing I have wanted to ask, but have been wary because a student might know it's me. I think privacy out weighs the money.

I'm young and broke yet I would still pay the $10 to be a part of the Teacher's Only board. I have a hard time believing that noone here can afford $10. If it's the principle of it, then don't pay and go somewhere else. There are lots of things in life that I don't think I should have to pay for, so I don't. I go without. The holidays are coming up, maybe ask for 10 bucks to become a member.

I think it is a great idea! I love the owners board and think that it is well worth $10.00! I had the same question about having to register again and be voted in if we are already members and are on the owners board.

I love the privacy concept, and I can deal with the $10 bucks, but doesn't voting end up in in a glorified prechosen chat room with separate topics?

How would I vote for a member I wasn't familiar with?

If you vote "Nay", for someone who commented negatively on a post of yours, whats the fun in that? No contraversy to spice things up?

Also, the "current teachers", who are they? Us current posters or the MODS?

Also, I can type you my resume, but are you going to need to see paystubs? How are you going to verify info?

Just confused, but nevertheless, I like the idea.

The only thing that saddens me is this: the ignorant parents who have stumbled across this forum, and finally understood what it is we actully go through, will no longer have access or understanding.

I have to agree that this is a good thing. I was a bit apprehensive when SO board went private but in the end it is great. I think the same will be true for the Teachers board. If you cannot pay the $10, the Ask board will still be busy enough, just like the Ask a SO board is.

I am also wondering about SO's having to join as teachers?

Not really liking the paying $10 part...I'm a poor college student who has enough to worry about paying for!

I wouldn't mind paying the $10. I don't have a huge amount of money but I think it would be $10 well spent. I like having a place to come to if I need some advice from people who are living what I'm living. The problem I see is that so many people are going to drop off the board. I am sure that the people on the board will have a lot to offer but the more suggestions one can get, the better. Like I said, I wouldn't mind paying the $10 but I want it to be money well spent & if most people are dropping off the board, I don't think it would be money well spent!

I don't really care if it's private or not, but I don't mind paying $10. They have to keep this website up and running. I don't mind contributing. Keep up the good work!

I've already paid my $10 in support of this website but I like the "open forum". I think a lot of teachers accidentally discover us and become members only after they ask a question and receive helpful responses. This wouldn't happen if it were dues-based.

What if:
1. The board was kept public.
2. Those who respond in the "ask a teacher" forum MUST be voted-in teachers.
3. Only due-paying members could vote on teachers for the "ask a teacher board".
4. Only teachers who have been "voted in" could reply in the "ask a teacher" forums.

Is this too complicated? I'm in a hurry or I'd explain more but PLEASE, if you can afford it BECOME A MEMBER and
PLEASE, DDN, keep this a public forum.

Why is everyone so worried about paying? You don't have to pay. If you choose not to pay the board as you know it will stay the same. The teachers that post here will still post here. The only difference will be that there is another link at the top where the teachers who wish to speak more candidly will get the opportunity to do so with out parents and students chiming in "NASO" (not a studio owner) or "NAT" (not a teacher).

Over on the SO board we can talk about anything we like. The mark up of costumes, the price of our rent, etc and we love it! We chose to pay the whopping $10 to talk privately and that's our choice. You all have to make your own.

I did have a question while i'm here about SOs having to verify again Thanks! Love ya Lihn and MODS!

Sure I'd rather it be free, but personally I think the advice I've shared and received here is PRICELESS and motivational. Ten dollars is really not much money at all. I know that we as teachers are not exactly making six figures, but If you are working as an instructor and connot afford $10 one time ...you're seriously underpaid I agree with the proof of employment etc. However, the vote in seems unnecessary and makes the Teachers Only board feel more like a clique than a place of sharing among everyone.

But the owners board isn't a clique and it's private. This isn't a popularity contest.

Can anyone tell me how you register to get on the private board? How do I do it? Where do I send my resume or whatever? Is the $10 a one time fee or a monthly fee? And when does this go into effect? And if for some reasone we don't get "voted in" will our $10 be refunded?

Thanks,
Shannon

I don't think it is available for payment yet. On the owners board it was $10 ONE TIME, not monthly. I paid by paypal.

If dancin jo jo is right, and there will be a private teachers board and another non-private teachers board, that is different from the "Ask a teacher", that would be fine with me. That is not the impression I initially had, but that would be an awesome compromise to keep private issues private and keep the masses responding to our ever so common basic questions like "Need to find this song...". (Which I think we all agree is priceless...this worldly network of info sharing on dance has been such a wonderful asset to me, educationally, emotionally, and on advice.

I say other than "Ask a teacher", because that draws in a lot of parents and students--as opposed to mainly teachers.

^ All I can say is that is how the SO board became. I cannot speak on behalf of their plans for this board, but I am hoping it will be the same because it works over there. What they did is this:

One is the public "ask" board where the non-paying ppl can ask away and the private board where the teachers can complain, ask, vent, support each other, etc to their hearts content with out the possibility of a parent or student trying to chime in or read confidental discussions.

I like posting on the private SO board because i'll never see "NASO" ever again. it cuts through the crap and i get the answers and support i seek.

Recently we were also given a private photo board where we can post pics of our studios and students, etc and not have to worry about who sees them.

Hope this helps!