Instrumental teacher refusing to teach my child

[MairSS]

I just cannot believe the email I’ve just received from my child’s instrumental teacher!
DS has been receiving instrumental lessons at school for a couple of terms. The music teacher is freelance and therefore parents pay fees directly to her.
We pay up front each half term. She invoices us. I had overpaid by one lesson last time, and she had not realised this. I therefore sent her a message telling her to check her account. She immediately did and apologised saying she had not realised and adjusted the invoice accordingly. I wrote another message saying that in fact I always pay on time and didn’t appreciate getting messages saying I hadn’t paid when I had.
She then said on reflection it may be better if I found an alternative teacher as she doesn’t tolerate rudeness and reattached her terms and conditions!
surely she can’t do this? How unprofessional! I’ll be making an appointment to see the headteacher on Monday!

Once she adjusted the invoice there was no need to say

She apologised and fixed it. So I'm not sure why you had to:

I wrote another message saying that in fact I always pay on time and didn’t appreciate getting messages saying I hadn’t paid when I had.

You were rude. She made an error on being told of this she amended your bill. She also apologised. You didn't need to go berating her following this.

Yeah YABU here. She amended and apologised, you should have left it there.

If she's freelance the head won't be able to do anything.
It does seem like you were rude though as she immediately apologised and sorted the problem and then you complained.

It sounds like she's within her T&Cs to terminate teaching agreements if she wants to. I'm not sure what the headteacher will be able to do.

Emails came come over ruder/more abrupt than the sender intends. Which is why it's best not to do anything other than accept an apology and move on.

Sounds like you were rude, she had already apologised for her mistake so there was no need to say that. If she's freelance she doesn't have to teach your child 🤷🏻‍♀️. Maybe next time you should think about how you talk to people so your child doesn't miss out.

She doesn't have to teach your child OP. I don't blame her tbh.

This. You were bang out of order. I'm amazed you thought this was in anyway an acceptable way to behave

I’d walk away from that. You both sound quite highly strung, and she isn’t going to calm down. Find another teacher.

You were being arsey when she had made a genuine mistake, I’m not surprised she doesn’t want to teach your child anymore.

I don’t blame her. YABU.
How dare the peasant refuse to teach your child!

The correct response to the apology would have been " That's Ok, mistakes are easily made. Daughter will see you next week as usual"
Anything else is easily misconstrued as aggressive.

Whether I came across as rude or not, it’s totally unacceptable, it’s my child that’s missing out. I pay for lessons and I expect them to be delivered!

This is what consumerism has done.. people expect amazing VIP service and the right to be rude and it be tolerated. No.. YABU and you were rude to her. She isnt obliged to teach your child! Perhaps you should have considered how your behaviour would affect your relationship with her before you sent a shitty message…

You TOLD her to check her accounts? Wow.
The relationship between you has broken down and she is right not to want to continue to teach your child. This is entirely your own fault, sorry.
Move on.

You overpaid her. But then she accused you of not paying? Doesn't make sense. Communicating in writing may not be your strong point, and your email to the teacher may well have come across as much more rude and aggressive than you realise.

I would focus your energies into finding another music teacher, quite honestly.

That's on you not on her.

As she’s freelance it’s up to her whether she teaches your child or not. She doesn’t have to give any reason, but a parent being rude is definitely a good reason to not have to have anymore to do with you

You can't force her to accept your money and teach your child 😂 find another teacher!

Well, I wouldn't teach you or your child with that attitude!

Then find someone who is prepared to deliver them. She clearly is not!

You spotted a mistake - she acknowledged it, made the necessary adjustment and apologised to you. You then got on your high horse and rather than say: “Thanks very much, I appreciate it” you responded to rebuke her again and laid it on with a trowel.

Snowflake’s chance in hell that she will change her mind - who needs to hassle of dealing with someone so unpleasant? She’s freelance so doubt the head will be able to do anything about it either. Except maybe offer to teach you some manners..?!

You expect the lessons to be delivered? But they have been? But no more.
If your child is missing out, there's only one person to blame here and it's not the teacher.

It would appear your money is not instrumental to her livelihood :)