Math support and enrichment. It's an extra period of math for students who are struggling with math. They were studying transformations.
They had a couple worksheets to complete. It was just a little simple graphing...
Well, maybe it was not so simple for them (considering what class it was). But they had plenty of time, and I could help.
If you've followed my blog for any length of time, you know that kiddos try to take the easy way out more often than not.
"I'll give you three dollars to do the assignment for me."
My first though was that I'd gotten a raise. It used to be that they offered a dollar for that sort of thing.
But I replied with my second thought: "Considering my expertise, my services are worth at least twenty dollars."
Naturally, he balked. Which was exactly the reaction I was going for. Sort of.
Then someone mentioned gas money (as in $20 is gas money), and the conversation shifted to what kind of car I drive. (They asked. My answer was non-specific.) And the price of gasoline.
Topic shifted, I went back to doing my job and they went back to avoiding the work.
Because, seriously? I was probably undercharging.
If they want to hire the work out, they really should consider the skill set of the person they're hiring. I got an A in freshman math. And sophomore math. And I even managed to get through calculus. If they want to cheap out, they need to hire someone with far fewer math skills than me.
Good on you. If anything, it shows that a lot of time people are not getting paid what they are worth. You taught them a valuable lesson.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I'll do it for $10. But I can't guarantee the answers will be correct.
ReplyDeleteSee, I can give them a 100% or a money back guarantee ;)
DeleteToo funny! I hope you're having a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteThat's true! Don't underbid yourself! You I am sure worked hard for the grades you got; don't give that away too cheaply (not that you would, LOL). What is the price of gas these days in your area?
ReplyDeletebetty
Truth be known they have NO intent to pay anything to have the work done they probably just threw it out there to see how you would reply. I never paid to have my work done ....I never had anyone do my work. I think it is so funny that kids don't get that once they are out of the school system comes work and you just can't pay someone to do that for you while you get the check! They really think that school is not going to do them any good for being out in the real world.
ReplyDeleteI definitely don't trust them about money. If I were to agree, I'd want the money up front.
DeleteYou're way undercharging. You could probably get fifty dollars an hour. Although the worksheet probably wouldn't take that long :P
ReplyDeleteKids are sure bold these days! I guess that's a good life lesson... the value of labor, and highly educated labor will cost you more! (subtext: Stay in school and study hard).
ReplyDeleteLove your response Liz! What would you have done if the kid had given you the $20?!?! 😂
ReplyDeleteHe wouldn't've. If I thought for a second that asking for $20 would have been accepted, I wouldn't have offered.
DeleteSend them to me. Ha, my math skills probably wouldn't even be worth a dollar.
ReplyDeleteSo, you'd've made a profit ;)
DeleteI can't imagine kids trying to pay the teacher to do the work! Wow. Times have changed.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am just a sub...
DeleteI was passing by a flyer for the Math Club. On it was a sample question about the equitable distribution of funds (or some such thing). The flyer then went on to trumpet that you could learn the answer by joining the Math Club. After a perfunctory look to see if I could solve the problem, I decided that my head hurt. So, I moved on.
ReplyDeleteBottom line, I was just the sort of student who would try to hire someone to do my math problems.
Haha. Three bucks buys what nowadays--one and a half candy bars?
ReplyDeleteI know, right? Hardly worth the effort.
DeleteWhen we lived in China, I charged triple to teach children English than all the other teachers did. When people balked at my prices, I pointed out my 20 years experience and Master's degree in the field as opposed to the "typical English teacher" who was nothing more than a native English speaker with an ESL certificate they obtained through a few weekend classes.
ReplyDeleteBut when the word got out that the few students I had were nailing their national placement exams and I was being called as a consultant to the government schools to improve their English programs, I had to start turning away customers.
Know your worth and never short change yourself.
Great story. Something to remember.
DeleteAmazing how they look for shortcuts to get assignments done. You told them the right thing!
ReplyDeleteAnything to not do work.
Delete