Confessions of a Substitue Teacher

While I am waiting and looking for the stage of my life to begin I have been staying somewhat occupied by substitute teaching for three districts in my area. I love it. I really do. If I could pay the bills by subbing I would do it for the next 10 years.

I have subbed for everything from 1st grade Art to AP Chemistry. I have done gym, band and - wait for it – sewing. Actually I am pretty good at sewing since my wife is active and avid seamstress. I know a bobbin from a presser foot. I love Junior High. I have enjoyed every assignment I have received. But having this up close view of education has been profoundly disturbing. Beyond the fact No Child Left Behind has simply not worked, (another post for another time) somehow we have taken the greatest opportunity for personal elevation and are transforming it into a glorified daycare.

We give children the opportunity to learn, develop, explore, expand and stretch their minds for free. Yeah, yeah there are minimal fees handed out. But we give this to every child. Every child is welcome. And we are wasting it.

Being a sub means you are simply a place holder. Make sure the class doesn’t implode while the teacher is off somewhere else. It also means you get a level behavior and cooperation that is one or two or ten rungs lower than they would try with their regular teacher. No problem, expected, bring it on. What seems to be transcendent is that we expect less from the students. Sub or no sub, we demand less from our children. We expect rowdy behavior. We expect excuses for not doing the work. We don’t hold them or ourselves accountable for not meeting the standards. I cannot tell you many times I have heard the line “This is hard!” Whether it is reading Shakespeare or grasping Geometry, it is just too hard. Hey, it is suppose be hard! This is school! My standard response to this cry is “Well you didn’t come to school to learn how to button your shirt.”

There are students all across the globe that taking every advantage their education affords them. They do not cry foul at the expectations made of them. And they are passing us by. If we do not change the culture of our education system it won’t be the children being left behind it will be our country.