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| | These are links to various resources which may contain information useful in developing your policies and procedures for an Aikido school. Not all of them related directly to Aikido, but they all address issues which are discussed in the General Issues in Teaching Aikido section. | | These are links to various resources which may contain information useful in developing your policies and procedures for an Aikido school. Not all of them related directly to Aikido, but they all address issues which are discussed in the General Issues in Teaching Aikido section. |
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| | [http://www.virtus.org/virtus VIRTUS Online] | | [http://www.virtus.org/virtus VIRTUS Online] |
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| | + | [http://www.scouting.org/YouthProtection.aspx Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection] |
Revision as of 17:44, 6 May 2008
General Issues in Teaching Aikido
Starting a School
Equipment
Insurance
Legal Issues
General
The advice here is from the perspective of an Aikido instructor who has run a school. It's a good place to start, but legal issues really should be discussed with a qualified attorney. All legal documents used by the school should be read and approved by an attorney, possibly even written by an attorney.
Certifying Teachers
It's likely that non-certified yudansha and higher-ranking mudansha students will be required to teach on some occasions. But for anyone who teaches as a matter of course, there should be some sort of certification program which includes some familiarization with school policies. In some cases, it may be worthwhile for anyone wanting to be a regular teacher to sign a document stating that they have read and understood the policies.
Some schools have regular re-certification sessions for all certified teachers. This or some kind of regular classes geared toward those who have teaching as a responsibility are a good way to insure that all teaching staff are aware of what is expected of them and any changes in policy. It may also provide an opportunity to spot developing issues before they become a problem.
In addition, anyone participating in a program geared toward minors should undergo a background check. This check should be geared toward relevant criminal activity, specifically sexual misconduct or child abuse. A number of other, similar organizations have developed policies and procedure which my provide a model for how this should be handled.
Teaching Minors
A number of issues arise in teaching minors that are not generally at issue with adults. Allegations of abuse, justified or not, against a teacher can destroy the reputation of the teacher and the school. Policies regarding minors must protect the minor students from potentially abusive teachers by screening out such teachers and by ensuring that opportunities for abuse are minimized or eliminated. These policies should also protect the instructor from any potential for unjustified allegations.
A good, general policy to have is to avoid even the appearance of misconduct. Structure policies such that no misconduct can occur without witnesses and make sure they are enforced.
Always More than one adult with a minor
It's never a good idea for an instructor to be alone with minors, even when the parents trust the instructor. It may present an image of impropriety even if there is none and it opens the instructor to allegations of misconduct even if no such misconduct occurs.
Certainly, any potential misconduct would occur in such a situation.
Separate dressing facilities for teachers where possible
It's best for instructors not to use the same dressing rooms as children. Even other adult students should be discouraged from changing at the same time as minors.
Where separate facilities are not possible, changing in "shifts" is a viable alternative.
Another alternative is to encourage students in children's classes to arrive dressed for class. This can be problematic from the standpoint of keeping uniforms clean, but is often easier for parents in any case.
Safety Rules
With children, in particular, expectations of student behavior must be spelled out pretty clearly. This is especially true of rules aimed at safety. Horseplay, running, and fighting are just a few examples of behavior which must be actively discouraged.
Teaching in Someone Else's School
Whether you are invited to teach or are expressing a desire to teach, you have a responsibility to the school and to potential students to be sure that you have the proper qualifications. You also have a responsibility to understand and follow the policies of the school.
External Resources
These are links to various resources which may contain information useful in developing your policies and procedures for an Aikido school. Not all of them related directly to Aikido, but they all address issues which are discussed in the General Issues in Teaching Aikido section.
VIRTUS Online
Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection
