Need advice

[Atlenate]

Hi...

How's everyone?  I am aiming to open on march 1.  A friend of mine posted on local moms group about open house for my center yesterday and she got this one lady who's questioning my qualification.  I responded her email directly and told her about my education background and I got inspired by my son's improvement in math after taking kumon. 

Here' s what she replied; and I just wondered what would you do.

Thx in advance,

Supark

Thank you for writing.  People come to me all the time and ask me for referrals for math tutoring. I have been asked recently for another referral and asked if I had an opinion on Kumen.  Based upon what I do for a living (I am a professor of mathematics and math education), I can't and don't give out referrals for anyone unless I have personal experience with their teaching.  And having no experience or knowledge of Kumen I am not ethically able to say anything about it.  However I'm happy to share your information and the information about your center with people as an option without giving any sort of personal reference.  

If you are willing to share some information I can at least give more detailed information about the service you are offering.
1. From where did you graduate?  
2. How long did you teach, what grades and where?  
3. What experience do you have in teaching mathematics?  
4. What is your knowledge of the new common core standards? 
5. Are you the only instructor at the center?  
6. If you plan to hire others, what are the minimum qualifications you will seek?
7. What is the pedagogy for the mathematics instruction.  What is Kumen and what are the methods based upon?
8. What do you believe is the role of the teacher in your center, vs. what is the role of the student vs. the parent?

Will you have your own web site that I can refer people to for such information, especially your personal views and experience in teaching?  Kumen may be a wonderful program, but as you know, a program does not a teacher make (or anyone could do it!)

I look forward to hearing more about your offerings.  The community needs education support, I agree!


Mary C. Krembs Ph.D.

[Ben]

Hi Supark,

Oh boy, this is a tough one.

Remember, there will always be people (especially teachers) that would
be against anything that make them uncomfortable. I am trying to talk
to one of my kids`teachers but now when they see KUMON on their call
display, they don`t pick up the phone.

Now to your issue here: If it was me, I wouldn't respond by writing a
detailed e-mail with answers to her questions. You will give her a
HARD COPY of a proof to slam you down and talk behind your back. I
would just reply and ask to meet her in person. I am almost 100% sure
that she would not want to meet you in person and the e-mail thread
will close by itself :)

When (or if ever) you MEET HER IN PERSON, take the educator
information brochure that Kumon has and make sure she knows how to
write the name KUMON (not Kumen .... LOL). I would emphasize on
collaboration with teachers, the benefits of the program such as
concentration, self-learning, skills, etc. and that Kumon is a
franchise with a network of highly educated instructors and
management. Support is available in all different types of fields
(e.g. child psychology, education, marketing, etc.). Emphasize that we
have a teaching program that was planned years ago and is being
improved on a daily basis and this program is proven to be successful
as millions of children have been taking advantage of its benefits and
have been doing great in life. Remind her that this is an AFTER-SCHOOL
program and Kumon does not intend to replace school.

Be tough with these people and good luck with your center ;)

I hope this helps :)


Take care,
Ben

[Atle...@yahoo.com]

Ben...
Thank you so much for your great advice. I will do that.
By the way, you looked great in your Facebook pix.
Supark

Sent from my iPhone

[Zia&Ayesha Abdullah]

Hi Supark,

I would also add that Kumon is not like any other learning center.  There is no tutoring.  The worksheets are designed in such a way that the children learn on their own.  The whole purpose of Kumon is to enable children to get the skills to self-learn. 

There are no lessons that have to be planned by the instructor or any of the teachers who may be working in the center.  Kumon has developed the worksheets and are continually working to improve them.

Also, there are a lot of people who help children with either Math or Reading who do not have a teacher's degree and who do a wonderful job.

Good luck.
Ayesha

[Supark Patsrivong]

Thank you Ayesha.  That was perferct explanation.

Supark

[Krishnan Venkatraman]

Hi Supark,

                        Wow, the challenge for you Supark is to not be baited by the Ph.D. I actually believe that a math professor is not qualified to comment on instructional setups for mathematical education to children. In her primary vocation, she is primarily dealing with students that have chosen math as an area of study and are already quite proficient. It is a very different world from the one of having to deal with children that are creating their basic building blocks to be able to become a high achieving math student. For doing this, we, as Kumon instructors are uniquely qualified. A PhD is a poor substitute for being able to actually build Math skills in children. Yes, she would understand more Math than the average Kumon Instructor, but we get paid to instruct and build foundations- having a PhD and a professorship is no guarantee of being able to do that- In fact, most college professors have average to poor teaching skills (trust me- I was a University professor).

My take- don't be baited by this individual- This is a case of "I am the math master and you will pay because you did not have my blessings". Obviously, it would be better if she said nothing, but she has taken it upon herself to put you on the spot online- because, you offer an alternative that she had not provided.

I agree with Ben- do not email her back with specifics. Let the email thread die off- totally agree with Ben. I hope she does not up the ante as a means of getting more attention to herself. I would respond, if I had to by talking about the 50+ years of educational experience that Kumon has with math education and its tremendous success globally.

Good Luck!

Krishnan

[Supark Patsrivong]

Krishna, Thank you.  I really appreciated your advice.  I will use it when she comes by the center. Supark

[mini Sethi]

It is awesome to see everyone involved in this discussion. 

I agree with everyone here but I can totally understand your apprehension Supark. All parents who will enroll their kids will ask about your qualification and you will be answerable to them. However this person has no right to ask you about your qualification. If you do meet this person, you should be absolutely confident, as you don't need anyone's "blessings", Kumon Learning speaks for itself.

Regards

Mini Sethi

[Supark Patsrivong]

I totally agreed with you Mini. Totally appreciated all your advices, you guys are awesome. Supark