Should I ask for credit for next month's co-op classes

[Bear23]

I pay over $100 a month for a co-op. The teacher has cancelled classes that leads up to a month of classes.  There is no substitute.  I think we ought to have a credit for next month or something to make up for all the missed classes.  Plus half the time we drove out there only to be told it was cancelled. 

Thanks for reading.  Even though we are not 100% liking this co-op our child does enjoy it and the teacher is a good teacher..  Just wish it didn't cost so much.

 

[MyThreeSons]

I would definitely talk to someone about this. No way should you be paying for classes you don't get. And there needs to be a plan in place for cancellations.

 

BTW, at our co-op, teachers get substitutes if they can't make it. 

[KungFuPanda]

The teacher should be offering make-up classes or financial compensation. She shouldn't just assume you are happy to pay for classes that never happen. The only exception I can see is if she defines a month as 4 weeks, and the classes that were skipped would actually be a 5th week in that month.

[Harriet Vane]

In the co-op in which I taught the last two years, their policy was to allow teachers one absence per semester. After that, teachers were expected to reimburse.

[readwithem]

You also need a policy for the teacher to let you know immediately (via text or email) that the class is cancelled.  Maybe you can start contacting the teacher before you leave to ensure the class is still meeting (just kidding.  Sort of).

[QueenCat]

I think it would be reasonable since there has not been a substitute in place.

[Lizzie in Ma]

Absolutely!  Our building fee is a separate, up front fee paid at the beginning of the year.  I would be royally peeved if I got there and class was cancelled, it's a long drive.

[G5052]

Is there a written policy?  

 

When I taught local paid classes through a group, the students paid a membership/building fee to the co-op manager, and then the families paid the teachers and we handled that as we saw fit.  My policy was that they paid per semester up front with refunds after the first class being only if I had to stop teaching or for very difficult circumstances in the student's family.  I always contacted the families immediately if I had to miss and made up the few times that I missed, 1-for-1.  So if they paid for 12 classes, they got 12 classes. I was also supposed to contact the co-op manager if I had to cancel, and part of the agreement was that I would always let them know that I had to cancel and that they reserved the right to not ask me back if I cancelled too many times.

 

So I'd look first at the co-op policies, and then contact the teacher.  They may not know that he/she is cancelling so much.  And there may be a policy that is not being followed.

[Samiam]

Where else would you pay in advance for services that you never received?   No where, I would think.   I'd be upset...one cancelled class, okay....several that equal out to one month of pay for service not given...I'd be discussing that with her.  Personally I would finding something else my child enjoyed.  When I put time and money into something, it becomes a professional relationship, and the teacher cancelling numerous classes, and not giving notice...that's not professional and I'd not be giving my time and money to her anymore.