Separation Between Subs and Teachers

[midwood_trail]

As a sub teacher during the school year in NYC, I have seen how apart sub teachers and regular teachers are in the schools, especially in the teacher lounges.

I can clearly see that regular teachers, for some reason, do not see subs eye to eye.

As a sub, do you often feel this way?

Can you relate to what I am saying here?

I work a sub teacher in the school year and as a summer high school math tutor.

Your thoughts?

[Brit]

when I was a sub, I went to a lot of different schools, and it was different in every school. I think it depends on the staff. I was at a few schools where I felt really out of place, but others where, WOW, I would go back at the drop of a hat!!!

The difference was usually pretty simple -- staff at the schools I would go back to TALKED TO ME. Even if they had no interest in me as a person, they offered me coffee, made sure I knew where the photocopier was, and told me who they were. In other schools, I was totally ignored. Sometimes, to the point where if another call came through for that school, I wouldn't take it. there's not a lot of time in the day to talk to a sub, I know, but when I was in the staff room, it was nice to feel like I belonged there.

I also appreciated teachers who, once they got to know me, asked for my input and ideas -- they treated me like a colleague, not some babysitter. It was awesome to be treated like I had some knowledge and could contribute.

[Oak Tree]

As a sub I've felt it but never really gave a d---. As a teacher I noticed it as well. I always go out of my way to be friendly to subs and everyone else for that matter from administration to the custodians-- actually, custodians are great allies! When other teachers complained about their rooms not getting cleaned well mine was always ship-shape. That being said, subs in my district can be a little kooky sometimes and when you're teaching as opposed to subbing the planning periods are usually chockablock so who knows why? But anyway, turning your nose up at a sub (or anyone else) is really lame. Plus, you want the subs to want to come back!

[neale68]

I remember those days...I even remember when they used to let people smoke in the teacher's lounge. Talk about division. It was difficult, but I always tried to establish a rapport with the teachers. As a classroom teacher now, I try to welcome our substitutes! They are so important.

I would suggest jumping in there and talking to people. Introduce yourself, maybe even get a business card to hand out to the other teachers.

I honestly believe that the field of education and the people that make this "machine" work every day are a fraternity. Whether full-time or part-time, we are all working for the common good -- the children.

Good luck and don't sweat the small stuff!

[teacher5]

First of all, I am very fortunate that each building in my district has one or two permanent subs. If there is no work for them on a particular day, they may be moved to another building where there is work. In many ways this is an ideal situation for all parties. One of the two permanent subs in my building two years ago went out of her way to get to know the students and programs in the upper grades (3-5). Because of this when I was sent away to meetings or had to go to mandated workshops, I requested her and was so pleased when I returned to see that plans were accomplished and the furniture was still right side up and things were in their proper place. I offered to write her a glowing letter of recommendation which helped her land a job in NYC. We stayed in touch. She was not very happy this past year, but because of the year's experience she was much more marketable back on LI. Last I heard, I got a call from a prestigous district where she was interviewed and wanted to hear from me personally. I really hope she gets the job because she is not afraid to teach science or math, and has a great way with kids about getting them involved and excited about learning. As an aside, sometimes outside subs are called in when there is a need beyond the permanent subs. Some of these are retired teachers and some people are not happy to get them because they must jump in and follow the plan left. Some of these people are what the younger teachers call "old school teachers" and don't follow the plans left, or discipline in a manner that the kids are not used to. These people have been reported to the principal and have been put on a list that the secretary knows as "not for our school." A sub should follow the plans left by the teacher and follow the classroom management plan that has been put in place by the regular teacher. Many of these additional subs do just that and are welcomed members on the day they come to sub.

[midwood_trail]

when I was a sub, I went to a lot of different schools, and it was different in every school. I think it depends on the staff. I was at a few schools where I felt really out of place, but others where, WOW, I would go back at the drop of a hat!!!

The difference was usually pretty simple -- staff at the schools I would go back to TALKED TO ME. Even if they had no interest in me as a person, they offered me coffee, made sure I knew where the photocopier was, and told me who they were. In other schools, I was totally ignored. Sometimes, to the point where if another call came through for that school, I wouldn't take it. there's not a lot of time in the day to talk to a sub, I know, but when I was in the staff room, it was nice to feel like I belonged there.

I also appreciated teachers who, once they got to know me, asked for my input and ideas -- they treated me like a colleague, not some babysitter. It was awesome to be treated like I had some knowledge and could contribute.


That's exactly how I feel. I feel that most teachers in NYC public schools think of subs as baby-sitters and nothing more.

One day, I walked into a classroom as a cluster teacher.
The teacher had a meeting to attend and told me that she needed to finish her lesson on adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.

I volunteered to teach the lesson but she said that fractions and subs do not get along.

Of course, this teacher does not know my math background.

She does not know that I minored in mathematics.

This means I took the entire calculus sequence (calculus 1-3), differential equations and matrix algebra.

Most elementary school teachers have never seen anything like those tough math courses I had to take. I would say none of the k-5 teachers will ever see matrix algebra unless they decide to take upper level math courses, which are NOT TAUGHT in grades k-5.

I was hurt by the fact that she immediately considered me incompetent to teach a subject that I walk hand in hand with.

See my point?

[midwood_trail]

As a sub I've felt it but never really gave a d---. As a teacher I noticed it as well. I always go out of my way to be friendly to subs and everyone else for that matter from administration to the custodians-- actually, custodians are great allies! When other teachers complained about their rooms not getting cleaned well mine was always ship-shape. That being said, subs in my district can be a little kooky sometimes and when you're teaching as opposed to subbing the planning periods are usually chockablock so who knows why? But anyway, turning your nose up at a sub (or anyone else) is really lame. Plus, you want the subs to want to come back!

Subs are people too. Without subs, teachers cannot take off.
Teachers should work hard worldwide to assure that subs feel welcomed and wanted in the schools.

[midwood_trail]

I remember those days...I even remember when they used to let people smoke in the teacher's lounge. Talk about division. It was difficult, but I always tried to establish a rapport with the teachers. As a classroom teacher now, I try to welcome our substitutes! They are so important.

I would suggest jumping in there and talking to people. Introduce yourself, maybe even get a business card to hand out to the other teachers.

I honestly believe that the field of education and the people that make this "machine" work every day are a fraternity. Whether full-time or part-time, we are all working for the common good -- the children.

Good luck and don't sweat the small stuff!

It's easy to say not to sweat the small stuff but in NYC people really know how to make subs feel like you know what.

I have left very nice schools because teachers would not take time to introduce themselves and make me feel that I meant something to the staff.

See my point?

[midwood_trail]

First of all, I am very fortunate that each building in my district has one or two permanent subs. If there is no work for them on a particular day, they may be moved to another building where there is work. In many ways this is an ideal situation for all parties. One of the two permanent subs in my building two years ago went out of her way to get to know the students and programs in the upper grades (3-5). Because of this when I was sent away to meetings or had to go to mandated workshops, I requested her and was so pleased when I returned to see that plans were accomplished and the furniture was still right side up and things were in their proper place. I offered to write her a glowing letter of recommendation which helped her land a job in NYC. We stayed in touch. She was not very happy this past year, but because of the year's experience she was much more marketable back on LI. Last I heard, I got a call from a prestigous district where she was interviewed and wanted to hear from me personally. I really hope she gets the job because she is not afraid to teach science or math, and has a great way with kids about getting them involved and excited about learning. As an aside, sometimes outside subs are called in when there is a need beyond the permanent subs. Some of these are retired teachers and some people are not happy to get them because they must jump in and follow the plan left. Some of these people are what the younger teachers call "old school teachers" and don't follow the plans left, or discipline in a manner that the kids are not used to. These people have been reported to the principal and have been put on a list that the secretary knows as "not for our school." A sub should follow the plans left by the teacher and follow the classroom management plan that has been put in place by the regular teacher. Many of these additional subs do just that and are welcomed members on the day they come to sub.

Are you saying that "old school teachers" are in the wrong?

Perhaps the new way of teaching kids is the problem itself.

I know that all schools have their favorite list. They call A, B and C but ignore the rest of the letters.

There's a school in this area that calls me once every 4 or 5 months.

I simply ignore them.:rofl:

[teacher5]

No, "old school teachers" are probably right in their tried and true methods. It's the new comers who don't understand what they are trying to do for the kids. It's also the parents who don't want their child to have the needed limits placed upon him/her in order to maintain order, decorum, and a productive working environment. For many years we had a senior lady, retired teacher, come and sub. She would walk in the classroom and tell the children she was so happy to be here because she heard this was one of the best classes. She heard how well behaved the students were and how helpful they could be. She said who would want to be any other place. Then she would call upon a student to tell her how to do the attendance, and praise and praise that kid for knowing what had to be done the right way to do it. She did this throughout the day, and by lunch time, she had earned their respect, and the class accomplished the plans left by the regular teacher. Word got out and everyone asked for Mrs. B. when they needed a sub. Two years ago Mrs. B. passed away. It was a sad day in our school.

[Brit]

I've always loved working next door to retired teachers coming back to sub. They're so full of good thoughts and love the job enough to come back! They're the ones I always felt I could talk to when I needed to trouble-shoot -- they're always good about sharing ideas. HOWEVER, as a classroom teacher, and a new one, I always called in the younger subs for my room if I could. I figured they deserve a chance to get their names known. I love those senior teachers, and would talk their ears off for hours, but it was nervewracking, too, to have them come in and spend a day with my class! Every time a sub comes in for me, I feel like my class represents me, and that the sub judges my teaching based on my notes and on my kids. I feel better having someone whose experience matches mine in that position -- it makes me nervous to think of a sr. teacher standing in for lil' ol' me!

Re: "fractions and subs do not get along" -- I'd say "okay. Do you mind if I observe you teach the lesson so I can get an idea of how I might do it myself someday?" Sucking up? Yes. Entirely untrue motivation? Of course. But it keeps the teacher happy, makes them feel important and like I'm teachable, and maybe it'll get me a callback. Subbing is SO politics.