All of the teachers in the learning center where I work experienced some sort of complaints already and about two months ago, I also got my share.
The complaint was: I don’t have a British accent.
It was coming from a grandmother who sat twice in my class to observe me. Normally, children ages 5 and above are going in the class without their guardians but then one day, this particular grandma asked me if she could sit in my class and being the polite person that I am (*wink), I said okay. After the second time of observing me, she talked to my head teacher and told her that she wants another teacher for this group (where her granddaughter is in). And the reason she said is because I don’t have a British accent.
The bad thing is, this gradma talked to this group’s kids’ parents and told them that the group will be better off with another teacher (Note: This group was previously handled by another teacher before I took over).
Firstly, I never claimed that I have a British accent and secondly, I never even tried to speak with a British accent. So I am quite irked that the complaint is based on such shallow reason.
My head teacher is of course, on my side. She told me, it is not her first time to hear a complaint. She said she got worse already but she said that the learning center is more than just a learning center, it is also a business and therefore; we should give the clients what they want no matter how shallow it is.
I didn’t try to reason out. For me, if they want another teacher then it is fine with me. I have too many classes anyway. So everything’s agreed between me, my head teacher, and the grandma. We agreed that as soon as the LC gets a new teacher, this group will have a new teacher.
So yesterday, the new teacher came and starting next semester, she will teach this group. The sad thing is, not all of the parents agree to have a new teacher for this group because their kids want me as their teacher. So half of the kids would like to stay with me and the other half would be separated and will continue with the new teacher. But the problems are: the LC doesn’t have enough rooms for this particular time. So they don’t know where to do the separated class. They (parents themselves and my head teacher) don’t seem to agree on another schedule so they have to find a way settle that. Another problem is the fact that “half of the group” is not enough to continue a group. 8 is the maximum number of kids in a group, 5-7 is ideal, but 4 is just too less (the LC won’t earn enough). So if things are not settled, this group could be abolished completely just because of one guardian who complained.
what the hell? i don’t see why there’s a big fuss about accents. why are people so particular with accents? i don’t really get it.
and why is the Head granting an irrational request to think that she doesn’t agree on it? oh yah… LC is a business, and pleasing the clients above anything is the main concern.
if i were your boss, I’d rather lose 1 student than 4. so, i’d ask that grandmother to transfer her grandchild to another class or better yet to another learning center … in England where teachers speak with perfect British accent. and why did she have to convince the other parents to replace you?! she’s a racist … that’s why. anyways, to those who agreed with grumpy granny, it’s their loss not yours. your students want to go with you because you are a great teacher.
the same thing happened to me 7 years ago. different situation but almost the same. a parent requested her child to be transferred to another class simply because I was only 19 and inexperienced … long story … boring … so i don’t want to elaborate.bottom line was that she hated the fact that i was still on my last semester in college when i started teaching. she was shocked that i was taking up bus. admin. and not educ. my initial reaction was “uh-oh i’m in trouble” good thing my boss was very supportive.