Why are tutors expected to be available whenever a student needs them, whether they have a scheduled session or not?
I recently experienced another situation where I had a student who expected me to respond immediately on a long weekend when we did not have a session scheduled. They had an assignment that was due that evening (why they had an assignment due on an evening of a long weekend, I cannot explain) and wanted me to go over it before they submitted. I had other obligations on that day and could not answer immediately. Their response was to text message and email me repeatedly. When that failed, their mother texted to let me know their offspring was waiting for a response.
This is not my only student who does this. I have several students who send me their assignments outside of our scheduled lesson times. I will frequently look at assignments in preparation of a class if students send them to me beforehand, but I try not to work with students on assignments without seeing them, particularly since it means it would be unpaid work. It is important to set boundaries to avoid misunderstandings when the parents or students expect more than a tutor should be providing.
Power Imbalance
Part of me also wonders if there is an issue of power dynamic here. Why should the student or parent expect me to respond on-call when we do not even have a scheduled time? Why, when I do not respond right away, does the parent or student feel it is appropriate to message me repeatedly, on multiple platforms, until I respond? Why is there a lack of respect for my time and understanding that I have other responsibilities and obligations that could mean they will not be my top priority?
I frequently see this power dynamic in a client/service provider relationship. The client does not seem to respect that the service provider has their own lives and attempts to encroach on their space. This could be in the form of demands on their time, extra work, or even discourteous tone in communications. I do not believe it is meant maliciously, but I get the feeling it is done thoughtlessly. This, I have noticed in any and every service industry, not just in tutoring.
I understand that parents are a lot more intense when it comes to their children and they are anxious about their academic performance. However, there needs to be a consideration that the tutors are being asked for something that is beyond the scope of their service agreement. Not only are they not obligated to provide this additional service, but to continuously demand without respecting that they may not be responding because they are unable to, demonstrates a complete lack of empathy for the other party. There may be an agreement for delivery of service, but anything outside the scope of that agreement is a request and the service provider should be treated with the same level of regard as any other individual that has a request being made of them.
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