China series, Part 17: A conversation with a parent

[Prometheus]

Yesterday, I got roped into a conversation with my boss and a parent who did not want to renew their contract. The reason was money, but I was the scapegoat. The mom was saying that her "brilliant child" (who spends most of class digging for gold in his nose) was not being well-served by my classes despite all of the other students in the class doing well and surpassing their classmates in public school English class.

Wait a minute. I think I dislocated my shoulder. Hold on...

Anyway, the boss asked me to come into the office and explain the educational process in my class and talk about how far the student had come in his time with us.

I tossed out the usual niceties and banal aphorisms with as charming a demeanor as I could muster considering the child in question could barely speak Chinese, let alone English, until the mom said flat out that I was a bad teacher.

Charming went out the door.

"Your son studies piano, right? Is he any good at it?"

"His piano teacher says he is one of the best students she's ever had and that my son is constantly improving, which is more than I can say for his English!"

"Does your son practice the piano at home every day?"

"He practices 30 minutes on school nights and an hour on Saturdays and Sundays."

It was time to wipe that smug grin off her face. My boss could see it coming but there was no way she could stop me.

"Does he spend as much time practicing English?"

The grin slipped and she started to mutter something but I cut her off. "Will your son become a famous pianist someday?"

"No, but...."

"Will playing piano get him a better score on the college entrance exam?"

"No, but...."

"Unless he applies for a job at a music store, will his ability to play piano ever be questioned in a job interview?"

"No, but...."

"Will being able to read, write, and speak English get him a better score on the entrance exam?"

"Yes, but..."

"Will being able to read, write, and speak English get him a better job after graduation?"

"Yes, but...."

"Then I suggest that you find 30 minutes every school night and 60 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays for him to practice English. Once he does that, I'm sure he'll be one of my best students as well. If you don't want to do that, please feel free to go find another school and another teacher to blame for your child's laziness."

I left the office and went to my next class.

The boss just sent a message to let me know that the mom renewed her contract and that I should let her say those things next time... Chinese to Chinese.

Mission accomplished!

I get the bonus for the renewal and I'll probably never have to be involved in another meeting like that ever again.

If I do end up in one of those meetings again, the spiel will be the same.

[abbey1227]

You'd be one of the teachers I'd select to offer online courses to American kids.


Many of them need a good boot in the ass in order to focus.



I usually did