Unforgivable Rules

[Zanshin]

Do you or your Instructor/Dojo have any terminable, unforgivable rules? I understand that everyone has some rules for their class/students, but do you have any rules that will get a student permanently expelled from the class?

Not paying

[lordtariel]

Not paying

We'd be required to commit seppuku.

[Azmyth]

to make this a little more interesting.. there are a few rules that an instructor might break that would cause a student to leave.

1. class interuptions to sell health foods and meds, enough of which to cause me to not learn anything that class.

2. selling drugs that allow people to pass drug tests

3. passing people soley on the money they paid.

[Ottman]

Heh, good one Zanshin.

My old instructor was actually somewhat lax when it came to late payments/not paying, and she would make arrangements with a student rather than expel him. I'd guess about 50% of instructors would be ok with making an alternative payment arrangement rather than losing a student, but there are those who are very 'money-centric' as well of course.

The only time I've ever heard of anyone being expelled from that school was a younger student who had repeatedly vandalized the school. He got more chances than he deserved to clean up his act IMO too. (I'd have expelled him after the first time, or if I was in a very patient mood, I'd give him ONE more chance.) He was about 9, and was drawing on walls repeatedly, tearing wallpaper down, and the last straw that finally got him expelled: defecating in the bathroom, but not in the toilet. (Ewww)

[Ottman]

to make this a little more interesting.. there are a few rules that an instructor might break that would cause a student to leave.

1. class interuptions to sell health foods and meds, enough of which to cause me to not learn anything that class.

2. selling drugs that allow people to pass drug tests

Wow, an instructor of yours really did this?

3. passing people soley on the money they paid.

I'm afraid this is becoming a more common occurrence in MA schools these days. Kind of takes something away not only from the martial arts, but from the students that do deserve to pass based on the hard work and discipline they've put in and demonstrated. I'm not saying that relative skill compared to the student next to them should matter so much, but if a student puts in the work to improve his skill and leaves his heart out there on the testing floor, and another student does nothing, and has shown no improvement or serious dedication to their training, they should certainly not be passed.

This is one of the many reasons I left my old school. Our tests were beginning to get easier and easier and my instructor was definitely more focused on who had paid, and much less on the MA. It's strange, because she is much more financially successful, with many more students now, than before when she was more focused on MA technique. I guess when capitalism consumes you, it really does.

[Azmyth]

yes he did.. on several occasions.. i left because of it.

amongst other things.

[ninjanurse]

My "rules" involve the safety of those in and out of the dojang as well as criminal activity and blatant disrespect. I try to nix behaviors that may lead to such violations (especially in the kids classes) by talking frequently with them about such topics. I have never kicked anyone out of the school but I have removed a student from sparring class for shaking a fist at her opponent when she became irritated that she asked her to tone it down.

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread but I just made a decision to dismiss my first student today after she was found to have stolen an ipod from the dojang. Interesting enough it was the same student I noted above...I guess the writing was on the wall!

[sensei8]

My "rules" involve the safety of those in and out of the dojang as well as criminal activity and blatant disrespect. I try to nix behaviors that may lead to such violations (especially in the kids classes) by talking frequently with them about such topics. I have never kicked anyone out of the school but I have removed a student from sparring class for shaking a fist at her opponent when she became irritated that she asked her to tone it down.

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread but I just made a decision to dismiss my first student today after she was found to have stolen an ipod from the dojang. Interesting enough it was the same student I noted above...I guess the writing was on the wall!

You're dead on here! Not only would I have kicked this student out of the dojang for life, but, I would've pressed charges to the max.

[ninjanurse]

Thanks for the "confirmation". As a result I have lost one other student (her brother) so it makes it that more disappointing.

[jaedeshi]

My "rules" involve the safety of those in and out of the dojang as well as criminal activity and blatant disrespect. I try to nix behaviors that may lead to such violations (especially in the kids classes) by talking frequently with them about such topics. I have never kicked anyone out of the school but I have removed a student from sparring class for shaking a fist at her opponent when she became irritated that she asked her to tone it down.

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread but I just made a decision to dismiss my first student today after she was found to have stolen an ipod from the dojang. Interesting enough it was the same student I noted above...I guess the writing was on the wall!

I would have used her to demonstrate a neck break on. Then show the students how to dispose of a body properly.

kidding.

That's a solid reason for dismissing a student.