Hi everyone

This case probably very rare happens between teacher and student. But it happens to me as a teacher.

I have taught a teen-boy student (18 yo) since he was 10. When he was 12, 15 and 17, he ever looked at me as a man like a woman. But it just happened on one-two lesson.

But on this year, since May in every lesson, he always looked at me, seems he liked me. As a teacher, I have to teach him, so eyes contact often can't be avoided. So, I knew his special views till middle of August.

After that, he seemed hate me so much. If he didn't come, he didn't tell me as usually. If I called him and he was not at home, he didn't call me back as usually. If he received the phone, he answered with no ethics.

I didn't know what he's thinking about me and didn't have bravely to ask him. Do you think he did it because he was broken heart? What should I do to overcome this problem? I'm afraid he will quit from the lesson because he is my best student.

Thank you for your advice.

-- Alice V (noname_poster@yahoo.com), September 21, 2004

Answers

what a waste of time, dont fool yourself, not everything revolves around you!

-- Merkin Maz (merkinmaz@hotmail.com), October 10, 2004.

Hi, It sure sounds like you have a problem with no easy solution. my advise might not be what you want to hear, but I can't see any other way to end the problem. First, find a teacher in your area who is more qualified than you and make sure they are accepting students. Second, talk to the boy and his parents - together might be best, and say something along the lines I've written. "Look, you're my best student, and I think you can really go far. I know of this other teacher, and she is more qualified than I am. She can teach you much more than I can. Since you have this gift you should pursue it, and it wouldn't be fair for me to keep you as a student when you could do so much better under her or his teaching." Yes, it's hard to lose a student, but that's part of being a good teacher, right? Doing what's best for the student even when it costs you something. This way you don't embarrass the boy and you encourage him to continue on in music. I personally would respect my teacher very much if she thought I was good enough to be passed on to a more experienced teacher even though she is one of the best herself. I am writing this from a teacher's point of view, too. I'm new at it, but I am both a student and teacher.

-- Laura (la_ginn@yahoo.ca), November 18, 2004.