Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Change of class time

46 replies

PineappleB · 19/10/2021 17:44

DS has a extra curricular activity every Sunday and we have a WhatsApp group between the instructor and all parents.

The instructor communicated in the group that due to a local even one of the class need to be taken place on line but she cannot do it on that particular date. So she suggested to do it on Saturday instead. I replied that DS has other activities on Saturday so can't make it. Then the instructor continued the conversation with other parents that the class will be on Saturday. I feel being ignored. So I replied that we should only change the time of the class if all children can make it. Then suggested what time works for DS.

DH thinks that I am rude to reply like that. It ruined the relationship with this group because DS will be in the same class for the next few years.

AIBU to reply like that? WWYD?

OP posts:

MargaretThursday · 19/10/2021 18:46

Have you ever tried to organise a one off meet up for half a dozen people?

Person A can do Monday or Wednesday, but not after 2:30pm
Person B can do any day as long as it's evening
Person C says that they need it to be over lunch time, but not Mondays.
Person D says any time... but please avoid Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays
Person E says weekends are best.
Person F says they're away Friday to Sunday that week...

Once you start asking you end up with something like this. Once you've asked, you effectively end up having to choose who to exclude, and end up with them making a MN thread titled "all my friends went out without me and I TOLD them I couldn't make that time."

I've found over the years it's better to say: "Meeting at this time, let me know if you can make it. If you find you're down to under half then reschedule it.
I normally find that having given a time people who were saying "I can't do weekends", or whatever often find that they can actually manage it.

Dishwashersaurous · 19/10/2021 19:00

Sometimes life happiness and something has to be rearranged.

If it only happens once or twice live with it, and majority rules for alternative date.

If it happens regularly then get a new class

AosSi · 19/10/2021 19:12

You've made a bit of a show of yourself in that WhatsApp. This is life, unexpected things happen and everything can't revolve around your DS. If it were a permanent change, you'd have a point.

MadeOfStarStuff · 19/10/2021 19:15

YABVU and very rude

if it has to be rescheduled it’s never going to be possible to find an alternative day/time that suits absolutely everyone, most people have a range of other commitments. Doing it at a reasonable time that most people can make is absolutely fine

The alternative is cancelling altogether which pisses everyone off rather than just you

TidyDancer · 19/10/2021 19:17

Wow yes you were rude. And also your first response to the instructor made it seem as though you were just saying your DS wouldn't be going, not that you were asking them to work around you.

DeepaBeesKit · 19/10/2021 19:56

I dont understand. The class has to be online instead of in person due to local event, but why isn't the instructor free at the usual time? If that event wasnt happening they'd be doing the class at that time, weird to schedule something else and then expect the class attendees (who pay you) to find another time they can make because the instructor hasnt kept that usual slot of time free? Or have I misunderstood

Original poster

PineappleB · 19/10/2021 20:13

@ deepabeesit
You didn't misunderstood. The class change from face to face due to local event. But it should be online at the same time. It's just the instructor can't do it for reason she didn't mention so the change of time. And that is the reason i think it's not fair for any of the children miss out because of that.

OP posts:

LittleOwl153 · 19/10/2021 20:16

I think for me it would depend on how many are in the class and whether it would be detrimental to the kids who missed. For example a small group language class where a new concept was explained and those missing would have to catch up I would expect some agreement on the rearrangement - even if this was as you say a sub teacher or just cancelling that class and moving the course on a week if that was possible.
If it were something more group based - such as scouts - then I would be annoyed with the change but accept it.

I would not however be expecting to pay for a class that was moved which I could not make when there is an annual timetable.

Original poster

PineappleB · 19/10/2021 20:25

@little owl
It's language with less than 10 children in the class.
I have another child attend the same setting (they have more than 10 classes covering different level). When the instructor is not available for some reason the teaching assistant step in to cover what the instructor hand over to him / her.

OP posts:

DeepaBeesKit · 19/10/2021 20:29

See OP for me that changes it. That's the usual class time, if it's the instructor who can't make it and the catch up is offered at a time you can't do, they should be offering you the fee back for that class. The teacher can't just not turn up at the usual time. It's not like a sports fixture where you get rained off and its outside the instructors control.

LittleOwl153 · 21/10/2021 23:12

Then I would expect the class to be rearranged so that everyone can participate - or the teacher to arrange a second session for those who cannot make the rearragement to ensure that everyone gets the work that they need. I would not expect a kid to have to catch up on their own because a class was changed. Have you asked on the WhatsAppp why another teacher cannot take the class at the usual time?

Original poster

PineappleB · 22/10/2021 08:05

@little owl She just said she can't make it this time.

The change of time is purely because she is not available at the usual time according to the annual time table not something outside her control (the local event only make yo online rather than change of time). I always think it's down to her to make arrangements work for everyone. Not for children to decide who should miss out

OP posts:

SapereAude · 22/10/2021 08:09

@PineappleB

Good to see different perspective But I don't mean my availability is more important than other children's. I think it's unfair for other children too if it works for me but not others. Say if 5 out of 8 can make it, 3 would miss out not because of their fault. Obviously I Hope there is a slot works for all.

The instructor change class time for her personal reason. I would thought if we cannot find a time works for everyone, they would find a substitute instructor for that session. But now I am not sure when everyone says that I am U

You said the time was changed because of a local event taking place, not that the instructor did it to suit them.

Unfortunately this happens with group classes. The instructor has found an alternative time. Obviously, if nobody could make it, then presumably the instructor would find a new time.

Can you imagine the logistics if every parent posted their preferred time?

cansu · 22/10/2021 08:17

Yes you are being ridiculous. Stuff does occasionally need to change. No it won't always be possible to suit everyone. Honestly everyone will now be thinking you are a Pita.

Original poster

PineappleB · 22/10/2021 08:18

@ sappers
I may not presented this clearly in the first place. The local event only change the class from f2f to online (which is absolutely fine). The change of time is entirely because the instructor not available at usual time.

I know how difficult it is to find a different time work for everyone so sub teacher would be a better option rather then let some children miss out when it's entirely the teacher fault.

It is language not some group activities . If she wants, she can provide 2 make up classes to make it work for everyone.

OP posts:

girlmom21 · 22/10/2021 08:42

Is the teacher paid or a volunteer?

underneaththeash · 22/10/2021 08:48

It's one session. It's really not the end of the world. The instructor couldn't do the day you could do.

ChrissyPlummer · 22/10/2021 08:58

Yeah, it sucks OP. I have this sometimes with my martial arts. I work alternate weekends and they had scheduled an event for my weekend off. “Great” thinks I, I can go. They then rescheduled it and I was unable to book the time off. I don’t know why it was rescheduled but it is annoying, especially when a catch up isn’t offered, which I think it should be if they changed the date/time.

RealBecca · 22/10/2021 09:05

Yanbu. why cant the instructor make the usual time if she had blocked it out anyway?

She should refund you that class.

ethelredonagoodday · 22/10/2021 09:12

I'd just let it go to be honest.

edwinbear · 22/10/2021 09:50

Actually, I think the local event is a bit of a red herring and she is using this as an excuse to move the class time because she has double booked herself. If she is running a paid for, language class, weekly at say 1pm on a Sunday, she needs to decline other things that clash. Or, be up front when you book the classes, to say Sundays at 1pm, except for this date when I have a prior commitment. Having said that, if it's a one off, I'd be annoyed, but suck it up.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread