Studio Policies for Hiring Teachers

[bablinbrook]

I am in the process of planning a co-op for music teachers in my area and I would like to know if anyone has ideas or experience with teaching contracts.  For example, when hiring teachers, what should I expect from a teacher to avoid a conflict of interest:  Should they be able to teach private lessons in their own home as well as my studio?  Should I expect that they do not teach private students outside the studio at all, or within a parameter of, say, 10 miles?  What about a policy for bringing their own students to my studio, or taking students with them if they choose to leave?   If anyone has any ideas or additional thoughts, I would appreciate it very much!

[amanfang]

I taught at a music studio in which there were around 25 teachers employed.  The contract said something along the lines of it was ok to teach in your own home or whatever.  We couldn't teach at another (competing) school though.  And if we decided not to continue teaching at that school, we could not take students who were currently enrolled in the school for up to 2 years. 

[Bob]

I think policies are good to keep things fair for everyone but I don't know how you would actually enforce them all the time.

I have just heard that's bad taste to "steal" students from a commercial teaching studio and bring them to your private studio.  But it happens.  But private teachers also bring their own students to a larger studio too.

I think there is a strong tie between the teacher and student.  I can't see why a student wouldn't want to continue on with their teacher regardless of where that teacher went.  Ie, take all their students with when they leave.

I would focus on making it nicer and more advantageous to teach in a group than privately. 

But really, how can you prohibit everything?  How do you enforce that, or enforce things without making the work enivronment less pleasant?   Maybe include a list of what you consider "in bad taste" regarding your group teaching studio and any other teaching commitments.  I don't see anything wrong with picking up students privately if there is a semester by semester plan -- Doing private teaching when the official coop teaching isn't in session.

I would be leery about joining up teaching with a group that had a lot of rules about what I could or couldn't do.  I would see it as just another place to teach.  I can't teach privately?  I can't teach the same student if I have to leave?  How would you enforce that rule if I did leave and took my students with me?

I would just focus on making it nice at the coop.  A private teacher has a harder time just finding space, a decent piano, finding students, and dealing with scheduling.  If a coop handles that stuff, it's a lot more attractive to me.

I don't think the rules would really have a huge impact anyway.  If someone wants to leave, they'll leave.  If another place is offering better, then you have to match that.

I've worked for a few.  They had policies but it was really more of an informal agreement.  Only one mentioned what was in bad taste.  But if I don't have to deal with all the administrative stuff, like collecting money, I can just show up and teach.  It makes it much easier.  I stick with that.