Should robotics classes for schoolchildren be paid or free?

Question

IT education

I watch the picture. Some teachers post materials on the network, on their websites, blogs to study the topic of robotics. Lessons, lectures, assignments, examples, etc. Posted completely free of charge.
Others make an advertising site, private paid lessons, or a closed circle and conduct paid classes.
Do you think robotics training in Russia should be paid or free? If it doesn't make it difficult, with a brief justification of "why".
In the 2013-2014 academic year, I opened a circle in a Moscow school. Lessons are free of charge. Approximately 100 rubles per student per lesson. To be able to buy components. I bought a lot of electronics at my own expense and in fact I am in the red. On the one hand, this is an expensive hobby, on the other hand, I want the hobby to bring money. Otherwise, the wife will not understand. :)
If you make the circle paid, then what should be the cost of one lesson?
If you make the circle free, then what and how to earn money?

Answer 1

You have asked several questions today, and all of them are slowly moving towards the main thing, this one.
If it weren’t for the words: school, children, circle, then I would definitely say: “Yes, classes should be paid.” But since these words sound, firstly: where did the teachers who taught (including me, including optional) everything for free go? I'm not talking about the cost of parts and your desire to get out of the minus, but about the desire to make money on it. But let's leave this philosophical question, it's not for me to criticize you, I don't teach children anything.
How exactly do you have established relations with the school, how do you pay for hourly classes? After all, you cannot charge students without sharing with the school that provides you with the premises (if I understand everything correctly), respectively, how will these relations be formalized in the future? If you start making money on this hobby, you need to absolutely transparently formalize your relationship with both the school and the parents of the children. This is a question of the legality of this business.
And the second question: the market. What will he tell you? Will you find your student if the price increases.
In general, if everything is done as it should, then why not? You should not pay with your free time and knowledge for the unwillingness / inability of parents to occupy their children with something interesting.

Answer 2

Raise the price as long as there is demand, with the end benefit unchanged.
It is better to train 10 people for 200 than 20 for 100.
PS

Answer 3

> But since these words sound, firstly: where did the teachers who taught (including me, including optional) all for free?
Remembering my school years, I would like to say a huge thank you to the teachers of Gymnasium No. 2 in Khabarovsk, and especially Natalya Egorovna Dovbilo, who organized electives with incoming mat-professors in the distant 90s, who worked at that difficult time for free. Thanks to them all.
And according to the subject: Everything must be paid for if this is a private initiative and is not paid by the state. Set the amount of the fee from the optimal number of children that you can "serve". The cheaper - the more. But more doesn't mean better. Therefore, feel free to raise (but do not bully). There will be really interested children. I think up to 1000 per month for 4 classes per person just right. It's no longer worth it.

Answer 4

Dear, I want to share the result. I decided that it would be better if there were fewer students, but more pay. Raised the cost. I was worried, because there was a fear that the group would not be typed. In the first days, I even managed to get upset. Because last year I got the group together in one day. This year, a week has passed and there are only a couple of students. But the next week, 10 students came at once.
The cost has been raised for several reasons. I didn't pay rent last year. There was only an income tax, the school did not take anything for itself. Now you need to pay in full to everyone and everything. :(
Two months of classes have passed, the guys like it and I'm happy. To this day, new students come who want to join and do robotics.
A 9th grade student made a video of the first lesson on the basics of electronics.Robotics circle in Vykhino-Zhulebino
I plan to launch online courses on robotics for everyone after the New Year.