Thursday, March 09, 2006
Venting
As a substitute teacher in the same school district over the last year and a half, I feel I've built up a solid reputation based on good word of mouth and a couple of days where I've impressed the other teacher in the classroom (some classes require two teachers these days). That's why I'm pissed off right now and hoping that I'm in the same building tomorrow.
A month or so ago, I subbed for a math teacher who left a crappy set of plans on her desk and a short list of directions. The list said, "Take attendance, teach kids probabability, hand out worksheet, go over worksheet". Simple enough, but a nightmare when you realize that you have to introduce a new subject to a classroom full of students hungry to attack a substitute.
Anyway, I was only in two of her classes that day (The principal was "nice" enough to fill my breaks with classes that weren't supposed to be mine) and thought that, for the most part, I did what I had to do. While both classes were horribly behaved and the review was atrocious, I introduced the lesson clearly and the students that DID listen, understood what I was saying. It's all of the ones that didn't that screwed up the review. Cut to the chase, most of the students wasted their time (and mine) and I was happy to be done with them (and to think, those periods were supposed to be my free ones).
Fast forward to today, and some kid in the hallway comes up to me and says, "Mr. G! Mrs. ******** said you did a bad job with our class and that you must not have tried very hard."
Well, FUCK Mrs. ********. I busted my ass trying to teach those ungrateful 7th graders probablity and despite referrals and constant reminders to stop fooling around, those two classes didn't want to listen. And for those of you who haven't subbed before, a classroom like that is NOT uncommon. In my experience, those crazy classrooms are only fueled with the knowledge that their regular teacher isn't going to do JACK FREAKIN SQUAT if they behave that way, so they sure as hell aren't going to listen to a substitute. I've subbed long enough to know that it's not me that's the problem. I'm good. Damn good.
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is FUCK Mrs. ******** and her attempt to sully my reputation. I just hope (and it's been a month so it's unlikely) that she hasn't said anything to any of the other teachers who I've come to know. To be fair, there were three other subsitutes teaching her classes that day so the idiot kid who came up to me could have turned a broad comment into something more personal. But until I talk to her (tomorrow hopefully), I won't know that.
Still, I hope she didn't direct the comment at me personally, because I'll tell her the same things I've included in this post (except the FUCK parts). ¶ 11:11 AM
A month or so ago, I subbed for a math teacher who left a crappy set of plans on her desk and a short list of directions. The list said, "Take attendance, teach kids probabability, hand out worksheet, go over worksheet". Simple enough, but a nightmare when you realize that you have to introduce a new subject to a classroom full of students hungry to attack a substitute.
Anyway, I was only in two of her classes that day (The principal was "nice" enough to fill my breaks with classes that weren't supposed to be mine) and thought that, for the most part, I did what I had to do. While both classes were horribly behaved and the review was atrocious, I introduced the lesson clearly and the students that DID listen, understood what I was saying. It's all of the ones that didn't that screwed up the review. Cut to the chase, most of the students wasted their time (and mine) and I was happy to be done with them (and to think, those periods were supposed to be my free ones).
Fast forward to today, and some kid in the hallway comes up to me and says, "Mr. G! Mrs. ******** said you did a bad job with our class and that you must not have tried very hard."
Well, FUCK Mrs. ********. I busted my ass trying to teach those ungrateful 7th graders probablity and despite referrals and constant reminders to stop fooling around, those two classes didn't want to listen. And for those of you who haven't subbed before, a classroom like that is NOT uncommon. In my experience, those crazy classrooms are only fueled with the knowledge that their regular teacher isn't going to do JACK FREAKIN SQUAT if they behave that way, so they sure as hell aren't going to listen to a substitute. I've subbed long enough to know that it's not me that's the problem. I'm good. Damn good.
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is FUCK Mrs. ******** and her attempt to sully my reputation. I just hope (and it's been a month so it's unlikely) that she hasn't said anything to any of the other teachers who I've come to know. To be fair, there were three other subsitutes teaching her classes that day so the idiot kid who came up to me could have turned a broad comment into something more personal. But until I talk to her (tomorrow hopefully), I won't know that.
Still, I hope she didn't direct the comment at me personally, because I'll tell her the same things I've included in this post (except the FUCK parts). ¶ 11:11 AM
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I hate it when people disrespect the hard work of others. Especially without walking in their shoes. Especially when you are on the same team, theoretically. Especially when they speak about it in front of others, especially kids!
What a great asshole-y way to undermine the authority of a fellow teacher. I hope she apologizes to you.
What a great asshole-y way to undermine the authority of a fellow teacher. I hope she apologizes to you.
Not once in my entire public school career was a sub ever expected to introduce a new subject. Not because the sub was not capable, but because most students mentally check out the moment they know their teacher isn't coming in that day.
I say, fuck that lazy bitch for lumping the most difficult part of her job onto you, and fuck her for badmouthing you to *students* of all people. Talk about unprofessional.
I say, fuck that lazy bitch for lumping the most difficult part of her job onto you, and fuck her for badmouthing you to *students* of all people. Talk about unprofessional.
You'd be suprised how often I'm asked to introduce a new lesson (especially in the 6th grade for some reason).
But yeah...you guys know how it is. The second any of us saw a sub back in the day we knew it was going to be 40 minutes of mayhem...and it still kinda is.
But yeah...you guys know how it is. The second any of us saw a sub back in the day we knew it was going to be 40 minutes of mayhem...and it still kinda is.
This story reminded me of my own, not at all related story: In 8th grade I missed school the day my Math teacher introduced the idea of logarithms. I come back the next day and she's continueing the lesson, but I of course don't understand a word she's saying since the symbols and vocabulary of logarithms are completely unrelated to any other math concept I had ever learned. So after the main part of the lesson, during the "do these problems" part, I went up to her desk to tell her that I didn't understand what was going on because I missed yesterday's class, could she maybe give me a quick overview? She COMPELTELY brushed me off, basically telling me to read the book. I was shocked. Her response was so completely outside of what I considered to be reasonable that I didn't know how to react at all.
There are a lot of bad teachers out there. :(
There are a lot of bad teachers out there. :(
I didn't want to call her out on it, so I let it go.
BUT a couple of days ago I taught some of the students that were in the math classes I had been "accused" of screwing up and asked them if there had been a problem the next day. Both of them said no and that Mrs. ******** didn't say anything of the sort.
So I don't know...I don't feel like ruffling feathers (not when my position is day to day).
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BUT a couple of days ago I taught some of the students that were in the math classes I had been "accused" of screwing up and asked them if there had been a problem the next day. Both of them said no and that Mrs. ******** didn't say anything of the sort.
So I don't know...I don't feel like ruffling feathers (not when my position is day to day).
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