Do you allow parents to watch?

[Philosophical One]

Hi everyone.

I was just wondering what your various policies were regarding allowing the parents of your students to watch the classes.

We have a very relaxed policy - ie. ANYONE can watch...

It usually works really well, but occasionally we have people who abuse our 'hospitality' (bringing noisy babies/ toddlers + talking loudly to other perents)

Yesterday for example we had a mum with 5 kids (only 2 were training) and the other 3 were running riot into the equipment - shouting- playing and really making a nuisance of themselves.

I kept looking over to the mother and she acted like she couldn't see or hear them!

Disgusting!

I know someone should confront individuals like this - but they are usually the type to fight about it...

Unsure how to handle these situations - we definately don't want to alienate paying customers - but something has got to be done...

I'm sure this has happened to others. How do you handle these situations?

[bushido_man96]

At my school, we are fortunate enough to have our TKD room closed off, but with at big screen in the lobby area that parents can sit and watch the class in. We have a camera in the TKD room that feeds in the class to the big projection screen. We also have a play room that kids can hang out in as well.

When it comes to kids doing this, you may want to hang some small signs in the sitting area that states "Quiet Please" or "Stay Seated While Class is in Session" or the like. In the end, you may have to talk with her after a class, and let her know that her children are disrupting the class.

[Philosophical One]

Wow, your set up sounds awesome!

I hope we will have a similar set up in the future... we also have problems with the parents getting 'over involved'

You know the type always harping on their kids?

Arg - karate parents

[hayashishodan]

Is your watch area sectioned off? I would at least maybe put up some sort of ropes with signs saying students only beyond this point . Put out a general notice to the parents asking them to please respect the classes or you may not be able to have them come in the dojo as it is too disruptive.

[Philosophical One]

No it's not sectioned off.

We move from hall to hall during the week so we have no actual static dojo... unfortunately.

We are going to have to do something - people are so rude sometimes.

[Montana]

I've always had an open door policy towards any visitors. I've run into the same problem as you've described and the sensei needs to talk to the person as the problem happens and let them know that they are welcome to watch the class, but need to control their kids, as they are disrupting the class. The same goes with talking or any other activity that distracts from the class.

Cell phones are a problem now days and I require that people either turn them off, or put them on vibrate...NO TALKING ON CELLS DURING CLASS.

Yes, they are "paying customers", but YOU are the boss in that environment and if they can't respect that, I would ask them to leave. If they take their student with them....oh well.

[Shotokan-kez]

Wow Brian what a great set-up you have! Wish we had that. Generally our club is quiet but it is open to anyone who wants to watch or join in. A while back we did have a problem with a group of kids who kept coming in shouting abuse and messing around. Sensei just told them at the main desk never to let them in again.

[bushido_man96]

Thanks, guys. We didn't always have this setup, but it is very nice now. During testings, however, we open up the back of our TKD room, and put in chairs for the parents to set in and watch. If it fills up there, the others can watch out in the lobby. It really works well.

[pegasi]

In this day and age, it would be hard to deny allowing parents to watch, given the improprieties of others. Having a video feed to another area is a great way to allow watching without disruption.

Have signs posted saying that spectators are welcome, but if you start disrupting class or distracting class participants, you will be asked to leave until class is over. Simple and to the point. For those who change class locations, a couple laminated signs that can be put up with removable adhesive would be a good idea. Then you can post the notice on the door where people come in, and take it with you when you leave for the day.

[tkdan]

We finally had to move the parents (and disruptive little ones) out to the lobby. We had two large windows installed so that parents could watch. This works great. A few parents were not too happy but they were the ones causing the most distractions (bringing wild little ones, trying to coach their kids, etc.). It has made for a much better teaching and learning enviroment.