Well, it all depends on how one defines "strict." I'm not a parent but from an outsider's point of view, it seems to me like a lot of young parents anymore don't want anybody telling their kids what to do at all. It may be that the child was being sent to lessons against her will - wouldn't be the first! I have a feeling that this may happen with the next teacher too...

Learning isn't necessarily an easy process. There have to be guidelines if progress is to be made; discipline has to come in somewhere. Stand your ground.