AIBU to think this music teacher sounds like too much hard work?

[musicalquiz]

I need a music teacher for my DD. I've found one online (via Facebook) who is apparently going to be joining DD's school in September. This is a very specific instrument and teachers aren't too easy to find.

I've asked teacher to email me his DBS. He has said no, he won't email it to me but he will bring it to my house when he takes DD for her first lesson. I'd rather see it ahead of time as his Facebook is very closed down and I can't see any of his details via the account - fake name etc.

He also wants paying in cash. No bank transfer. Cash only. This is 1) a PITA for me to make sure I have the right amount each week and 2) makes me wonder about tax evasion.

Finally, teacher can't do the days I want. We can do the other days but means rearranging one of my own weekly engagements.

AIBU to sack it off and keep looking for another teacher or am I just being grumpy and unreasonable?

Look for someone else. If he’s behaving like this now it’s only going to get worse further down the line.

Nah, too many annoyances. Find someone else.

Sounds dodgy.

The DBS thing would annoy me, so nah it’s not a good fit for you I don’t think.

I wouldn't go ahead with the teacher.
Too much hard work.

If it’s hard to find teachers then I’d put up with it. The cash payment bit and inconvenient lesson times are a standard situation, unfortunately, but not providing his DBS is weird. Why couldn’t he send a photo/scan/screenshot now and show you the paper version on the day of the first lesson?

You don't know his real name and he wants cash only? Mmmm...

I would assume such a person is not going to be a contentious teacher.

The teacher is being sensible not sending a digital copy of their DBS to a stranger. It’s a safeguarding issue.

I don’t understand music teaching (because I’m not at all musical) but I know that DD’s flute teacher can teach all woodwind, and our school brass teacher can teach all brass not just the one she plays in the brass band.

So it may be that you are looking for a specific bass bassoon teacher, whereas a general woodwind teacher would do which may be easier to find.

The only difference in my local authority is our cello teacher will ONLY teach cello

The not emailing the DBS is completely fine because of how much personal information is included. Everything else though YANBU

I wouldn’t send anyone a copy of my dbs. If he can’t do the days it’s presumably as he already has students on those days. He’s definitely not paying tax on that amount. I think all the requests are reasonable (I pay tax) but if it doesn’t suit then keep looking.

I wouldn't email my DBS to anyone either. Perfectly normal to show the original but not provide a copy for you to keep.

Conscientious not contentious

I'd be suspicious.
Unless it's for a harp then a further google should find someone more professional.

I think it’s fine, except the days don’t suit, depends on how important the other engagement is

It could be as simple as he may have been messed about too many times with bank transfers that never materialise. Perhaps he doesn't do online banking still? It's not too hard to get the right money and put it in an envelope for your DD to give him?

One of my older ladies pays me in cash, it's just how she likes to do it. I like it being sat there waiting for me at the start of a lesson, far better than waiting for mums to get round to paying me for services already provided at their own convenience, usually just before the next lesson. Termly in advance is best of all.

No reason he should email you his DBS, but he should be able to supply you with the reference number & date that is on it, and let you know if there is anything on it you should be informed about. When he comes for the lesson you can look at it then and a form of photo ID.

The cash thing would be a pain though I agree, but the tax thing isn't something that would concern me, his tax arrangements are his business.

How could he be joining the school if his DBS is dodgy. He just probably doesn't want to share such details.

Purely for the faff of having to get out cash it would be a no from me.

I'm not sure I'd want to share my dbs over email with some random students parent. It would be different for an organisation. He may have convictions that don't bar him from working with kids but still show up. You could do anything with all that info. Also I don't have a scanner or anyway to upload a document.

I’d look elsewhere. Doesn’t sound like there will much flexibility should you ever need it.

The cash thing might be because when it all went online the school stopped handling the lessons. That’s what happened with us and it was a complete mess. Not sure why he can’t set up a basic Acct though.

Dates - round here you get given a slot as the best teachers are very booked up.

I have a job that requires an enhanced DBS - we have always been told to share the reference number so people can look it up if they need to but on no account allow someone to take a photo copy. It has all of your personal details on it meaning you are vulnerable to a data protection breach if it was to get into the wrong hands. Having sight of it and a number to check should suffice.

I would not email anyone my DBS to anyone and it’s very common for teachers to use fake names on social media so that students can’t find/stalk them.

As for the cash, well bank transfer is more convenient for you but so many music teachers are stung by parents “forgetting” to pay.

I don't think any of those things are a dealbreaker tbh. Certainly shouldn't be emailing you a copy of his DBS.