I would dissuade potential student drivers from attending this school. My daughter had finished her classroom training a few months back, had 3 driving lessons with a very nice instructor, and was going out for her final driving lesson recently. The experience began with this second instructor calling me at 5:33 to impatiently ask where my daughter was. Now, scheduling driving time had been an issue with the school from the beginning, with them repeatedly cancelling and rescheduling, so when I received a call that day that she could have her last lesson that night, I agreed, on the condition that they pick her up outside of her music studio after a lesson. The instructor was clearly upset that my daughter had not come out of her lesson yet, which ended at 5:30, and wanted me to text her. Apparently what happened next was a driving lesson during which the instructor ridiculed her, called her "pitiful" (among other things), told her she would never pass her test, and made her so upset she couldn't finish the driving lesson.
Not a person to make waves, I still felt I should call to speak to the owner to report this second instructor's approach and the effect it had. When I did, I was impartial, calm, and reported what my daughter had tearfully told me to the best of her recollection. No sooner did I finish speaking, it was as if the owner was simply waiting for sound to stop coming through the phone at her so she could launch into an uncalled-for diatribe about my daughter's supposed behavior throughout her time at the school. She began her tirade with the words, and I am quoting, "Your daughter is a huge pain in the butt." (Although to be fair, she might have said "big" instead of "huge".) She unleashed a list of behaviors which had apparently upset her - and don't get me wrong, I know my daughter and she is certainly capable of the things she was reported as doing (i.e. not paying attention in class, not volunteering, fidgeting... ) However, there is a way to address things, and it is not to insult, harangue, and speak with such apparent angry loathing to a child's parent. And hasn't she experienced children with ADHD in her classroom before? Surely she must have run across a few, and understood the fidgeting part at least. I listened quietly (maybe from shock?) and we ended the call with her telling me that my daughter was through with the class and could pick up her CS1 form at any time.
I had attended the parent class at the school as required several months ago, and was instantly struck by the owner/instructor's attitude and personality. If she regularly speaks in such a condescending way as she did that day, I understand why my daughter wouldn't want to volunteer answers. During that 2 hour class, I witnessed the instructor mocking a parent for an incorrect answer (so I imagine it is even worse for students when the parents are not there.) I was also puzzled by her repeated warnings of not wanting parents to be calling the school and complaining for various reasons. At the time I wondered why she felt the need to say that, repeating it at least twice, and now I know why. Parents must call all the time, although why there has never been a poor review prior to this I don't know.
I expect that this review will unleash a furious response from the owner, but it needed to be said. read more