I feel quite bad at the moment. At the dance club, I was practicing with some friends. I noticed that the dance teacher Margot was chatting with some committee members. A lot. It seemed like she wasn’t paying attention to her students. I waited but she kept chatting. She’s done this before. So when she was away from the students, I went up to her and said, “You’re not paying attention to your students.”
She turned bright red and snapped at me. She was very angry, said I shouldn’t tell her what to do. I said, “Sorry, I was just worried,” and walked away.
I’ve never criticised her before because I understand that she is a far more experienced teacher than I am. She ought to know what she’s doing. But as a committee member (who is in charge of paying her and looking after the interests of our club), I have the right and responsibility to push her in the right direction when I believe she’s doing something badly. I honestly think it’s unfair of her to neglect paying students and I believe we have lost students in the past for this very reason.
I don’t like making people upset and I’ve probably offended her. I feel bad but I also feel like she’s the one doing the wrong thing.
Interesting. I agree in principle with the reasoning behind your actions. There is even a part of that says “you should’ve gone further and snapped back at her”. However, this is the kind of attitude which antagonizes relationships between individuals, people and countries (and I should know, I used to get in trouble for this ALL the time). The best response here would be a diplomatic one, although, as I haven’t met this dance teacher, I’m not sure how applicable such a strategy would be.
Don’t feel bad, just remember Bentham and utilitarianism. You were doing this for the greater good.
Daniel Yeow
Hmmm… very tough situation! She probably snapped at you because she was embarrassed being told off by a junior. It’s her way of recouping her authority. Don’t feel bad if you think you did the right thing.
pickle
Joan, like Daniel said, you did it for the greater good. I think a lot of students have appreciated it. And I think the instructor probably feels worse now than you do — she’d realise that you were right, AND that it was unfair to snap at you.
vera
hanks for the words of support. I will have to apologise for being rude anyway. I suppose I should have been less abrupt, knowing how sensitive she is to criticism (she has reacted this way before to another committee member who said she shouldn’t teach Cha Cha in a street latin class).
It needs to be done otherwise the lead up to our dance exams in a few weeks will be very tense 🙁
What a bad situation. I hope she doesn’t feel vindicated by the apology and continue the way she has been. Sigh.