So this year is my first year teaching but have been actively involved with the environment of teaching for a while.. I love my job and everything I just am having such a hard time with the parents. I feel like each week theres a new thing to complain about.. I had a mother tell me that she wanted more kids in the class and then we put more kids in the class and she came in and freaked out because the girl is like a year younger then her daughter?! i had another mother come in flipping out because the owners daughter was dancing in the class when she is perfectly capable of keeping up. Each week i hear another crazy story or have to deal with it. I am starting to loose my patience with these parents does anyone have advice on how to handle it? it is starting to get WAYYY out of hand ugghh!!

It sounds like your SO may be letting these parents walk all over her and that is why they think they can do the same to you. I don't understand how any of those complaints have anything to do with you since you are just the teacher. I would have a generic line that I throw at them whenever they complain, "I'm sorry but you will have to take that up with the SO." and then walk away and forget about it. It sounds like her problem and not yours...just my opinion

I totally agree, but the one mother that freaked about the charge pulled her daughter right out of my class when we have a show in like 3 weeks SO annoying and the other mother that is pissed about more kids in the class works with my mom so ofcourse i hear her nonstop!! she has been complaining since day one and her daughter has improved SO much.. she wants to put her with the other teacher that doesn't really have technique but she doesn't get it , i told her that she needs to wait until the show in 3 weeks to see how much she has improved because its ridiculous how much technique all of my kids lacked, i feel bad they didn't have good previous teachers and i especially feel bad for my SO she is stressing so much becuase these parents are whackjobs!!

Just explain to them that you are a trained dancer and teacher and you know what is best for the class. If a younger student is allowed in the class it is because they're at the right level both emotionally and physically to be there. Tell them that you appreciat their input and will value their voices but ultimately decisions are made for the good of the entire class.

This is a SO issue. I would redirect them to her. You don't create the policies that determine who should be in what class. And if a parent has a problem with the structure of your class, that should be addressed with the SO who in return can either ask you to make changes or can explain to the parent why she supports your reasons for doing things.

Not all SO's are good business people (unfortunately). I find that the good ones handle things so smoothly that I don't hear these kinds of things.

I also find that a lot of teachers take these sort of comments in a negative fashion. Most of the time, parents are upset about something, because they don't understand the rhyme and reason behind things. I address every "complaint" as an educational moment. When they know the reason, they usually understand and go with the flow.

Also, you can't please everyone every time. There are going to be many times when you need to let some things roll off your back. Learn to let it go.

my SO has handled everything very well I just know about all of this because it happens to happen infront of me. I am not trying to say by any means my SO can't handle it because she has I just happen to knw what has happened because I hear it. It is very unfortunate but we have handled everything as well as possible

Shoot such mothers. After that you may teach inmates = no mothers around .

lidwina wrote:

Shoot such mothers. After that you may teach inmates = no mothers around .

LOL!!! You are so funny!!!

You need to manage your studenta and let the owner of the studio deal with the nasty parents. It is obvious that they are getting to you and that will start to effect your ability to teach. I am a teacher for many years and remember the battles, sleepless nights and pains in my stomach dealing with parents who all want their child to be first and foremost. I want through this as an English teacher. When dealing with parents, it is the same no matter what you teach..

I agree. When I owned my school, I told the teachers that the buck stopped with me and to send all issues with parents to me so they could just teach. Now that I teach for someone else, I do the same, send them to the bosses. I teach, and that is it.

Just keep in mind that some parents are never satisfied, especially during this "hard economic time". They want to make sure they are getting their money's worth, and even if they are getting MORE than that, they still want more bang for their buck. The whole economy thing is turning people into very snotty people, if you ask me. They feel that their money is better than everyone else's, that because they are paying you money to teach their child, you should pay more attention to their kid and do whatever the parent says.

Sometimes you just have to smile and nod.. or simply excuse yourself from the situation. When I know my trouble parents are going to be at the studio, I stay away from the waiting/common area between classes and just stay in the studio room and wait for my next class. If it's the end of the night, I stay in the studio and clean it up. I know it sounds like I'm a huge scaredy cat but it works!

Jeannie1 wrote:

Sometimes you just have to smile and nod.. or simply excuse yourself from the situation.

Smile and nod works wonders. An emotionless response is generally very effective. If you engage with them you can simply say "Let the SO know your concerns...it's out of my hands."

The responsibility of dealing with them (or not) is the SO's. Defer to her regularly.

I can also say that the climate of each studio is different. Some SO's allow a lot of drama to occur and some SO's are all business and there is much less drama. All depends on how your SO runs shop.

You have to keep control of your classes. They may be the children's parents, but YOU are the teacher, and while they are in your care, YOU are in charge of what goes on and how. They have to learn to trust you to make the right decisions and not insist on taking over and having things done their way. In the dance studio, YOU know best. Don't be afraid to (nicely) tell them no sometimes, or (nicely) explain why you can't just drop everything and change stuff to suit them. And definitely refer to the higher authority (the SO) if they won't accept it from you. Don't be afraid to assert yourself. Don't let them intimidate you just because you're new at this, younger than they are, have no children of your own, etc.

It will get better. You need to establish your boundaries with the parents. Teach with confidence! As the others said, if it's a studio owner issue, direct them there. If it IS something that is your responsibility, be ready with the honest truth. I was twenty when I opened my studio and a lot of parents thought they could manipulate me into doing what they wanted because I was young and not altogether self-assured. Stick to your guns.

As long as there are students there will be complaining parents. It's the SO's job and something she should be use to.

As they say, 'The best student is an orphan with a credit card.'