They are her income stream, she very much needs to keep them dependant
I lost a teaching gig like that. It was a very wanky, Hipster (remember them?) music shop that was looking for people to do informal group lessons for bored Hipsters of an evening. I went along for the 'chat', nattered away, played a few bits and the owner was very positive - and then I fucked it by saying my aim was to set people up so they could play things without music, sing at the same time, work out how to play something by ear, add their own touches and generally be independent/confident musicians.
Apparently, this was the kiss of death to my fledgling career as a teacher of Hipsters, as what the owner wanted was to hold people back and keep them coming for years without ever developing any independence. When I looked at their fees, I realised why - they were making around £4,750 in two hours from those sessions and, to that effect, wanted people taught one thing (one chord, one strumming pattern, etc) in six weeks.
I changed my mind about the post just at the same as he said I might not fit their 'ethos' (he meant 'business model', naturally).
Can't stand anybody who profits financially or emotionally from keeping others dependent and scared to have a go at something/life themselves.