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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is odd ?

22 replies

pindywopwop · 18/04/2009 11:05

ds(7) has just had his weekly piano lesson.

On leaving the teacher said - he has got a bit of a cold hasn't he ? Could you cancel in future if he has a cold as I dont want to catch one as I need 3 days off work and it is costly.

It is the first time ds has had a cold in the year that he has been having lessons and |I have cancelled a coulpe of thimes when he was ill.

Is this ok or odd ? I really dont know what to think about it.

I can understand he may not want to catch a cold but surely this is an occupational hazard of any sort of teacher.

OP posts:
Tryharder · 18/04/2009 11:09

YANBU. If it's just a sniffle or a bit of a cold.

If you cancel at the last minute because of a cold, would she still charge you????

Original poster
pindywopwop · 18/04/2009 11:11

yes, just a bit of a shiffle, not a full blown cold.

no, he has not charged before for cancelled lessons and we cancelled on the day

OP posts:
Original poster
pindywopwop · 18/04/2009 11:12

sniffle not shiffle

OP posts:
juneybean · 18/04/2009 11:15

Why does the teacher need 3 days off if he/she gets cold???

Bucharest · 18/04/2009 11:17

Is he Italian? Sounds like my dp.

Original poster
pindywopwop · 18/04/2009 13:15

no, not Italian but typical man.

OP posts:
honie · 18/04/2009 14:08

If the teacher is self employed through an agency then he may not be allowed to work with an sort of infectious bug, which would mean losing 3 days pay, just to teach your LO for half an hour. Sorry, I can totally see his point, who can afford to lose money when it could be easily avoided.

Olifin · 18/04/2009 15:08

He sounds completely precious. Who needs 3 days off work with a cold?!

Musicians eh? He's obviously a sensitive soul!

CrushWithEyeliner · 18/04/2009 15:11

Not a full blown cold - very precious. Full-on snotty greeny cold I totally agree with him. Being a TA I have the same problem....

bamboostalks · 18/04/2009 15:12

What a nutter, of course an occupational hazard. You'll probably have someone along in a minute who'll defend this by saying that he might have a rare auto immune disease that might kill him and it could be triggered by your son's cold.

Olifin · 18/04/2009 15:15

CWE- I'm a teacher (not working at the mo) and I know what you mean- anyone who works regularly with children and young people can expect to pick up all manner of bugs (not all as visible as a cold!) and then you get immune to them within a term or two

nametaken · 18/04/2009 15:15

YABU - maybe he's got a rare auto immune disease that might kill him and it could be triggered by your son's cold.

CarGirl · 18/04/2009 15:16

tell him it's hayfever!!! I would check though just in case he does have some rare auto immune disease before doing that though!

Olifin · 18/04/2009 15:24

Surely if he had a rare auto immune condition, it would be his responsibility to minimise his risk of catching colds and viruses e.g. by not working in a profession which involves frequent contact with children.

LaQuitar · 18/04/2009 15:26

but on the other hand i m surprised that you cancelled with short notice and you didnt pay at least half.I thought you suppose to? I might be wrong.

Re the 3 days recovery maybe he is not precious but parents have been upset when he goes to teach with a cold? You need to see the other side. I m sure there are precious parents who will get pissed off if he goes with a cold. It is tricky really

honie · 18/04/2009 15:30

Would you all expect a CM to take on children that the parents know have an infectious bug, or (as I have read on here many times) would you expect the parent to ask the CM in advance if ok and make alternative arrangements if the CM wasn't happy taking on a buggy child.

Olifin · 18/04/2009 15:36

Every childminder I've used has been willing to accept children with coughs and colds as they are practically impossible to avoid and relatively harmless for most people.

CarGirl · 18/04/2009 15:38

I think he is just neurotic tbh! Or perhaps he has chest problems and colds end up giving him bronchitus or something like that?

Sassybeast · 18/04/2009 15:40

First though is that he has some sort of underlying auto immune condition or may be receiving some sort of treatment which renders him more susceptible to complications from germs which are ootherwisw harmless. YANBU to wonder but YABU to just assume HE is BU

tootyflooty · 18/04/2009 15:40

I am a piano teacher, and i have certainly taught some very snotty nosed kids in school,its a bit off putting when you keep catching site of green candlesticks poking out of nostrils, but it's part of the job, if he was that worried he could always wipe his keyboard over with an antiseptic wipe after the lesson. I only don't charge if I miss a lesson, so if any of my pupils are off sick they still have to pay. On the flip side I teach even when I am at deaths door as I don't earn when I am off, so how many kids have I infected!! it does sound a bit precious, but as long as he doesn't expect you to pay for the missed lessons there isn't much you can do.

honie · 18/04/2009 15:41

Would you assume so, or would you ask first? My CM would to, but surely it is the CM, or in the case, the piano teachers choice?

There are 2 side to it, and I just don't think someone not wanting to work on a close physical basis with a child whi has germs is odd.

A music teacher may be doing it to make ends meet, not because they choose to work with children and all the lovely stuff they bring with them (whole other thread). bear in mind aswell that a piano has to be touched by hands and thats one of the ways these things spread.

LQ makes a really valid point.

BradfordMum · 18/04/2009 15:42

Oneof the totaI look after has a permanent sniffle so I think Id have to teminate his co tract if I fought him the piano!
What a twonk

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