to feel that this makes no sense

[Puffling1985]

I am an EFL teacher. Job security is notoriously low in this sector and I try to take any work I can get my hands on. Since September I have been working for a newly opened language school. Student numbers have been low but the school's owners have been very open about me being their preferred teacher. They have, however, had to employ a director (for reasons to do with accreditation), who is now in charge of the so-called hiring and firing. I think I may have annoyed him a bit by taking work elsewhere in January, but I decided I would rather go for the firm offer made by another school than to trust that promises that 'it was looking good for January' would actually turn into work. Anyway, I have been back working for the new school for the past two weeks. I am teaching someone who is preparing for a major job interview. Our lessons are every afternoon, and these are the only lessons held in the afternoon. There is just one class, taught by the director, in the morning. My student has booked lessons for one more week (next week), but I can't teach in the afternoons then. My student is happy to do lessons in the morning, he has said he would like to continue with me because he likes me, I can teach in the mornings and there are classrooms available. But, the director has stated that all specialist courses are to be held in the afternoon so has decided to bring someone else in who has never worked for the school before, to teach 'my' student. Am I the only one thinking that this makes very little sense? It's not like it's a school with loads of students where you can't start to mess with the schedule because it would never end. Who stands to benefit from this decision? Am I right to feel like stupid, unjustifiable, administrative decisions are being given more importance than the quality of my student's tuition? I think it makes no sense whatsoever. Might not get so worked up about it if I didn't need the money so badly and I definitely haven't got PMS Your views are welcome!

[BlueJug]

Same sector but have diversified for the very reasons you state.

The student will like you but it does make sense to the school to use a wider range teachers - that way they are not dependent on you. If the new teacher is good they then have another person to use thus giving them flexibility and meaning they are in no way reliant on you. If the student had not been able to do mornings they might have lost the business. You showed them that you will let them down if other work is available so they have to cover themselves.
It will also be good for you - you have more options and they know that you are in demand rather than desperate.

[Puffling1985]

Hadn't quite looked at it that way. Have to say though, they already have 4 people (not including the director) on their books, so weird that there is now a fifth when there really is only enough work for one-two teachers atm. Should also have mentioned I was initially only asked to teach this student for one week, so I have demonstrated flexibility by doing the second week as well imo. Also not entirely sure I let them down earlier - no firm offer had been made and I didn't want to risk their promises not materialising (has happened since). But yeah, I guess it looks different from the other side! I guess I'm just a bit peeved because I get on really well with the owners and there has been a rather obvious change with the new director starting (I am not the only one to have noticed this). Oh well, one quick look online revealed 2-3 interesting vacancies, so I guess I know what I'll be doing tomorrow when I would have been working if their offers had actually materialised

Out of interest, may I ask what you diversified into? I'm curious in particular as going into EFL was a diversification already (graduated during the height of the financial crisis so my dream job in the public sector did not happen). Really love it though just wish it paid the bills

[BlueJug]

I diversified into anything that would pay the bills!!

I do some GMAT and IELTS tutoring and a bit of "admin" for some of my clients, (things like editing/proof-reading e-mails and formal documents for them).

I also have another part time role in a different sector - mainly administrative

TEFL is not what it was. Zero hours contracts and students who don't value a good teacher but just want the cheapest possible cost per hour mean it is a difficult job to earn any money in. I am not sure where it is going next but as most Europeans can now learn English by working here and the need for "good" language skills is less it is only really the world of certificates that generates paid work.

(PS I wasn't suggesting that you "let them down" or were unreliable in any personal way - just looking at it from their point of view. They need a stable of teachers to be able to offer the best service to their students. )