moral dilemma/ estimate

[Greg Livingston]

I would like to add my two cents to this interesting scenario.

I am a public school music teacher (middle school band, orchestra, general 
music) and have been in the same system for 24 years.  If that teacher had 
asked me to rig an estimate, I'd run, not walk, as fast as possible.   A lot 
can get by in a large system but in my experience if you are suspected of 
doing anything even slightly dishonest,  the best you can expect is to be 
out the door that afternoon, and lucky not to be prosecuted.  Careers can be 
tarnished, or even ended, at the mere suspicion of shady activities.

Here's why- because it involves your kids, my kids, everyone's kids.  Those 
kids depend on all of us. Cheating that school system not only cheats the 
kids of the piano (the least important component) but the funds (the next 
important) and also violates the duty we teachers all share in providing the 
very best we can, at all times, no matter the cost, to our students (the 
most important.)

Greg Livingston, Boston chapter
pianotuner440@hotmail.com

_______________________________
Always remember September 11, 2001


>From: Carl Teplitski <koko99@shaw.ca>
>Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
>To: "Kevin E. Ramsey" <kevin.e.ramsey@cox.net>, Pianotech 
><pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Re: moral dilemma/ estimate
>Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 11:18:14 -0600
>
>Good for you ! !    When I take on a job like this, I tell my hireee
>that,
>I am working for her/him , but I will do as honest a job as I can. If
>she
>has something else in mind, I will not be a party to it. Most people
>agree
>that is the best policy. What they do when I'm not there, is their
>business, but
>I cover myself by telling them the truth as I see it.  Good idea to
>write your agreement
>with this person down somewhere, in case it comes up again. Wonder how
>much the
>military paid for all that stuff we see in their stores ? ? Can't
>remember the name of the store.
>
>Carl / Winnipeg
>
>"Kevin E. Ramsey" wrote:
>
> > Good for you, David.. And don't forget,,you helped pay for the
> > instrument in the first place.Kevin
> >
> >      ----- Original Message -----
> >      From: David Renaud
> >      To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >      Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 2:43 PM
> >      Subject: moral dilemma/ estimate
> >       An estimate for a public school teacher.
> >      She's hired me, she works for the school.
> >
> >      Yahama Apt. size piano, not bad,
> >      needs minor work. Hairline soundboard
> >      crack, not open, at pitch, not
> >      too much wear, about 15 years old.
> >
> >      Apparently the school is now uses electric
> >      keyboards; is willing to sell said piano
> >      to her.
> >
> >      She evicts 2 other teachers from
> >      the room, and explains;" she wants
> >      to be alone with me because she,
> >      "Wants me not to be honest"
> >      "wants a high estimate",
> >      and proceeds to explain how she
> >      thinks she can get the piano
> >      for about $1000(Canadian money....about $600US.)
> >      She then makes clear I am not to
> >      communicate with the school, but
> >      will be using my estimate to get what
> >      she wants.
> >
> >         Several issues come to mind.
> >
> >      First, a client does not dictate what an
> >      estimate must look like.
> >      She thinks she can orchestrate the
> >      details because she is hiring me.
> >      I don't think so. I advocate for a
> >      client hiring me, buyer or seller,
> >      and act accordingly, but within reasonable
> >      limits based on defendable valuations.
> >
> >      Secondly, she is a public servant,
> >      working for the very institution she
> >      is actively trying to rip off. I see
> >      no sense of obligation to look out
> >      for the interests of the corporation
> >      she works for. I told her this, and also
> >      told her if she worked for my company
> >      I would fire her. The same schools
> >      that are crying no money for books
> >      and activities have teachers attempting
> >      to suck the system for thousands
> >      of extra dollars. I happen to know this
> >      same school closed a wood-shop. What do
> >      you think of a teacher getting ahold
> >      of most of the tools for a song, for example
> >      $20 brings a giant lath home. Polish it
> >      up and offer it privately for a $800 value.
> >
> >      I was booked to go to the lady's home
> >      after the estimate to tune and fix a few
> >      things. So between  this and the estimate
> >      I just walked away from half a days work.
> >
> >      I have heard it said
> >      "never let pride get in the way of makn money"
> >      well.... today I beg to disagree.
> >
> >                    grrrrrrrrrrrr
> >                    David Renaud
> >                    RPT
> >                    Canada
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >      _
> >      
>____________________________________________________________________
> >
> >      Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
> >      _______________________________________________
> >      pianotech list info:
> >      https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> >


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