TheApple

I've substituted in high schools for three years. Sometimes the teachers assume I can walk and think at the same time and leave REAL plans. But 9 out of 10 times there is busy work which they've already told the kids they won't grade. So here is the rub. My job, which I take seriously, is to make sure they do the work and that the classroom environment is condusive to working. The teacher left 4 worksheets they will never even look at and I'm trying to put toothpaste back in the tube suggesting to these kids that they do the assignment, walking through the classroom asking them why they aren't working, ect...

After I do a couple of problems on the board for them, the kids say something like, "Mr.______ told us not to ask you for help because you probably couldn't even spell algebra."

So, I'm dealing with disrespect that I'd never tolerate from my own teens, disrespect from teachers, a catch 22 of duplicity in the form of an assignment teachers have NO intention of grading, and all this for less than $10 an hour.

And, now my bachelors degree + masters hours aren't enough? The only reason I sub at all is to be available to my children who are in school. If they are sick, I can stay home with them and I'm home when they get out of school.

I realize that you may not know the caliber of the sub you may get. Learn their names. Thank them for being there so you could take a day off. And if you like how they did the assignment, ask for them the next time you have to be out of the classroom. The kids don't have to miss a day of instruction, there are skilled substitutes out there.