unprofessional teacher

[Astrodancer]

I'm having a problem with one of my teachers and I'm not sure how to handle it. She isn't a horrible teacher, but she has a few unprofessional attributes. My biggest problem is that she routinely starts my classes (technique and pointe) ten minutes late. I was wondering if it is unreasonable for me to be annoyed by this. I understand that teaching is a difficult and exausting job and I realize teachers sometimes need a few minutes between classes to catch their breath/ use the bathroom etc, but ten minutes just seems crazy, especially when you take both the technique and pointe class into account; that's a total of 20 minutes of class time wasted out of 2.5 hours that I'm paying for.

Now, if that was the only thing that bugged me this woudn't be quite such a big deal to me. But I just had class tonight, where she spent the entire barre doing paperwork! She isn't really the kind of teacher who makes many personal corrections, so barre wasn't actually very different than usual, but I still resent the fact that she wasn't paying attention to anyone during the combinations. IMO this kind of teaching is unacceptable, but I really don't know what to do about it.

Sorry if I bored everyone with my ranting

[Victoria Leigh]

No, Astrodancer, this is not an acceptable practice. Both the late starting and the paper thing are definitely not the way things should be done. If she does this on a regular basis, I would have a little discussion with the AD of the school, or, look for a new school. If the teacher is not paying attention to the barrework, not correcting things, and consistently starting late, then either the teacher is overworked and has too many classes in a row, or, she is just not a teacher.

[Mel Johnson]

You are realistic in your expectations. You are technically hiring the teacher, and the employee is not meeting your standards. You can change teachers with a clean conscience. I am a little out with a long and involved roll-taking at the beginning of class, but this one sounds like she's doing her taxes, too.

[Astrodancer]

Wow, thanks for the quick reply Ms. Leigh Well, the paperwork has only happened once (so far anyway) but she really doesn't make many corrections, or start her classes on time usually. The trouble is, when she does give corrections, she is pretty helpful. And she is a very nice person, so I would hate to complain about her. I just don't know what to do. Unfortunately switching studios isn't an option because of money issues. But my other classes are with different teachers, so at least I only have her once a week. If things keep going on this way I will probably drop her class next semester. That will be too bad though because I'll have give up my second pointe class because she teaches the only one at this particular studio. I dance at two different schools: one tech & pointe class at a excellent studio, 2 tech & 1 pointe at another, where this teacher is employed (it's not nearly as good). If I do drop her class though, I will probably need to take a technique class on pointe to substitute for the 2nd pointe class. Is this a good idea? What is better, a pointe class with a lousy teacher, or a technique class in pointe shoes?

[Astrodancer]

And thank you too Mr. Johnson for your fast reply. I was typing up part 2 of my complaint when you replied

[Mel Johnson]

We're both glad to be able to be here to give assistance to our members.

[Victoria Leigh]

Well, I think maybe you need to make sure that she is really a "lousy teacher" first. If her recent behavior is not the norm, and not consistent, then perhaps she is not so bad after all?

[Astrodancer]

Well, maybe lousy isn't the greatest word to describe her. Mediocre is probably better. Still though, I am frustrated by some of her her habits. What are your opinions about classes with hardly any corrections? I consider corrections to be the most important part of a class, but I guess just the act of coming and staying in shape for other classes with more qualified teachers would be better than sitting at home in front of the TV. My technique does have a tendency to get sloppy when I don't have someone watching me during class though.

[Victoria Leigh]

Corrections are essential. They don't all have to be individual corrections, but there are ALWAYS corrections! That is what class is all about, to make things better, to improve. And that is what a teacher is there for.

[Guest lisinka1]

I know exactly what you mean about being upset in that situation. When I studied ballet at a school that had a "professional" ballet company I ended up in the same situation. One time the "artistic" director of the company (who always gave the same barre to the same music) did paperwork while the class was at the barre. On another occasion the artistic direction gave us pointe class in place of our regular teacher who was a great teacher. I was having trouble with my new pointe shoes (the soles were causing me to slip on her freshly painted wood floor) and I asked her why I was slipping and pointed out that the soles were giving me trouble and she just shrugged her shoulders at me. I totally lost respect for her at that point.

 

As a teacher in an academic school I can tell you that you don't teach because you have to you teach because you want to and because you need to. You do it because you love your career. If you don't love it, then leave it because your unprofessional attitude will hurt your students. Students know when you dislike them or when you just hate teaching what you're teaching. They aren't dumb or oblivious to this. They see everything. An uncaring and unprofessional attitude can hurt students emotionally, artistically, and physically. I'm sure that this sentiment is true in the ballet world too!

[Astrodancer]

I've had a lot of different teachers over the years and I have to say, only a few have been what I consider great, dedicated instructors. That's not to say that most of my teachers have been bad, quite the contrary. But every now and then I come across someone who really inspires me and gives just a normal class a whole new dimension. This might sound crazy, but suddenly my legs are higher, turns are cleaner, and I feel a million times better about myself. I've always felt that with dance, even in class you are still performing for an audience (i.e. the teacher), so to me, it is very important have someone who really cares.

[Guest arabesque07]

Try having a teacher who rarely gives corrections because he is watching himself dance in the mirror. Thank you Alabama School System!