Private teaching appropriateness question?

Question

I am a 27 year old female piano teacher. I have been teaching for 7 years now, most of my students are kids but I've a few female adult students and it was fine to teach them.

The issue is that I got a call from a man who wants to start piano lessons at 37, he sounded serious, and he wants to come to my place. My husband is furious because he thinks it's inapropriate that we are home alone... is my husband thinking too much or is true that I should not accept to teach adult males??

Answer 1

Well I wouldn't have thought that it's as safe as teaching females on your own but once you have got to know him you should be ok....try having your husband in the house or someone else for the first few lessons until you feel comfortable.

Answer 2

I think your husband is thinking too much.Why would it be inappropriate? Just because he is male and you are female it doesnt mean you will end up sleeping together! would it be a problem if one of your child pupils continued tuition into adulthood or if an much older man in his retirement wanted to learn?

Answer 3

Well, ordinarily this would be a non-issue with my saying that your husband is too controlling, but today you cannot be too careful.  Can your husband be there at all when this man comes? There are too many instances of men taking advantage of women who are alone at an appointment.  I would feel safer having someone else there at least part of the times or randomly.

Answer 4

Teaching is your profession.  Does your husband trust you and your profession?  I would agree to have someone around the first time or so, but you are a professional.  I would also check out his civil courts record as I would any adult coming into my home, male or female.

Answer 5

I don't think its inappropriate but there is a health and safety issue to consider.

Why not ask your husband to be there for the first session or so? That is likely to put both of your minds at rest. And if you feel that this man has any inappropriate intentions then you don't have to continue with lessons.

Answer 6

Well, your husband must be the conservative type and he thinks ahead of others.  He's just protecting you, being a married woman, you know.  Others might thought of unhealthy things about you and your 37 year old piano tutee and that could be just too embarrassing to imagine for both of you.  You see, he's just letting his male intuition out just in case you donot foresee anything unsavory.

The best way is to talk to him about it.  It's a two way process. Listen to his words and weigh things out.

Answer 7

It's a matter or watching out for your own safety--not a matter of appropriateness.  My husband is a therapist.  That means that he is completely alone, behind a closed door with female clients all the time.  Being alone is not inappropriate.  It's what you do when you are alone that makes it so.  If you are being professional and doing your job, then the only other consideration would be your safety.  I don't teach from my home, but if I did--well, I have two good sized friendly, but protective dogs and they would just have to stay inside with me.  The way I figure it, anyone who is aggressive enough to take on a med. to large sized dog would be too much for my husband anyway.  Just consider your safety.  The rest is overreacting on your husband's part.