I teach a ballet tech class they are young like 8-10. I have one in there that very obviously dislikes ballet class, I feel a little bad, sure. However, if you want to be on the team you must take ballet. I aim to be a fair teacher. I am honest with my students, when they are wring I provide them the tools to fix things and when they are right, I tend to be really happy for them. Now I'm not tolerant of lazy, attitude, etc. But generally, I feel as though I'm what one would call a"nice" teacher.

Anyhow, the grandmother of the student who hates my class made a comment to me about how her granddaughter has no confidence in my class and can I boost her confidence because the child feels I've been critical. Oh man. I've been limiting my corrections on her as it is. Am I supposed to lie to this child? I already compliment every small stride:/ part of the issue is ( and I know some posters agree with this concept so don't want to start a debate) Basically everyone is allowed to compete and you know what these kids are learning...that they're already good enough and that you don't need to apply yourself to get onto the the team or to stay on it. Now I really like these kids and I want them to be their very best as a team. Yes, some are much more " trainable than others, but my thing is, I want each to be their best. I'm only trying to help this one child look more presentable.

So be honest with the grandmother in a tactful way.
"I've been limiting my corrections with Suzie and balancing each correction with a compliment. However if I scale back my corrections any further I would be doing her a disservice in not teaching her properly and putting her at risk for injury. I think the real issue here is that Suzie does not realize the importance of ballet and considers it a chore. Perhaps taking her to a ballet production would spark her interest a bit more. "

I basically did say that. However, I didn't recommend a ballet, good idea.

I tell kids (the complete class) this story:
"Wouldn't it be great if I only gave you compliments? Yes, that would be wonderfull, I agree. But let me tell you about this girl. In my class at the academy was a girl and she was really good and she got a lot of compliments from the teachers.
After 4 years we graduated and she got low marks with the addition 'You didn't learn much during these 4 years'. The rest of us got good marks because 'You developped yourself'.
So, if I only tell you what you do well, you don't know what you do wrong and what you need to work on. Maybe you are great and really good now, but if you don't develope while the rest in your class does, and they will become better than you. I give you corrections because I want you to improve."

The story of the girl in my class really happened.

Yes, I have had that, with a parent or two, who wanted the kid to never be unhappy. I don't get it. How do they discipline, but hugging them and saying, "Don't do that again."?

I have said that it's up to them how good that they want to be and guess what? I only correct those I care about and who have potential to be great dancers. "If I correct you, that means I care and see that you have what it takes to be a fabulous dancer. If you want, I can ignore you and let everyone get better and the, suddenly, you are not good enough to be on team. You tell me what you want me to do."

Sometimes they just need a smack of reality.

I do tell all of my kids, at the end of class, "I am so proud of how hard you worked today. Thank you," or something similar. I do find, too, that if you correct others, a lot, and then compliment them, and start ignoring some, completely, that they hate that.

I have had to do that with the ones who hate correction, I even did it with my own daughter who told me, "You are always picking on me," even when I directed it at the entire class, and not her. She was NOT happy when I started ignoring her. I told her, "Well, that's what you wanted, right?"

Agreed with everyone else. Also, they (the grandmother and the student) need to be reminded that it's a privilege to be on the competition team, and that ballet is a requirement of that, like it or not. Your job is to make her a better dancer, and you can only do that by correcting her mistakes. If she doesn't like it, maybe she shouldn't be on the team.

I have a speech I give all my classes at the beginning of the year, and sometimes give again if I start getting a vibe from the class. I have a strong personality and scare the pants of new kids until they get to know me. I find this speech really helps! Basically it's like this - You are here to learn dance. If you knew everything I was going to teach you, then you wouldnt need this class. I expect you to make mistakes, because that is how you learn. My job is to tell you what you are doing wrong and give corrections. Its not personal. It doesn't mean I don't like you. It means you are trying and I'm helping! That's what we are supposed to be doing in class! I am only mad when you don't try or are lazy. I would rather you try hard and fail miserably than hold back and do it ok.

Thanks, everyone, for your input. Cheerspirit, i've given that talk, too. haha.