Okay, so it really isn't moonlighting. I've been a elementary and middle grades math tutor in the Tutor.com Live Homework Help program for a little over two years. It's been a good source of "pin money" to help stretch those days between pay checks.
Now that the medical bills from my sugery are trickling in, I'd like to get them paid off without suffering any real losses from my standard of living. I refuse to give up beer to pay the anesthesiologist, lo siento.
The problem with doing anything online is that there are always problems with communication--people take things the wrong way.
Occasionally I'll get some asshole kid that will say "I want a boy tutor" or " Lick my nuts." Tutor.com insists that we be politically correct and customer-centric and not snap at these little demon spawn. We have to bring the sessions to educationally sound closes and warn the students accordingly that we're going to end the sessions or at least try to begin a tutoring session.
Some of the vicious things these kids say used to really bother me, like the one kid that told me I was all wrapped up in all the money they pay me. Bullshit. Let's just say that experienced tutors get paid about the same per hour as a first-year teacher. You can surmise that isn't much, although the abuse is intensified by the fact that you'll never meet any of these kids face-to-face, so they never get held accountable for their actions.
What I really need are some catchy one-liners to use on these verbally abusive that won't get me in trouble when my sessions get reviewed by the higher-ups. The standard tag line I normally use is "That sort of language is not allowed in the classroom. That is your first warning. If you make that sort of reference again, I will end the session."
I need something that will NOT get me in trouble, but will put these ill-mannered brats in their place.
Posted by Tiffany at April 24, 2005 08:01 PMHow about suggesting they practice their verbal skills for their future employment prospects? Something like "Would you like fries with that?" or "Paper or plastic?"
:)
I like the one you suggested, it's not snappy, but it'll get the point across without freaking out the internet bosses.
Posted by: Shiz at April 25, 2005 03:14 PMI would just ask the little jerks if they talk to their Mother that way. If they have a Mother that may straighten them out. But on the other hand the "Higher Up Internet Boss's" need to respect what you do, and not allow these little disrespectful punks to walk all over you. They are paying you to do a job and I would say it is damn near impossible to teach someone something if they have no respect for you.
Posted by: mavie6789 at November 3, 2005 05:36 PM