Substitute teachers are exactly that, substitution for when a teacher is absent. However, there is usually a major difference between the days when the teacher is there and the day when a sub is in charge of the class.
“I used to teach in Dallas,” substitute teacher Kim Mahoney said. “When you are the classroom teacher, the students tend to have more respect for you, and you can maintain better control of the class.”
There are a multitude of reasons why having a sub leads to a different learning environment in the classroom.
“The impression I have received from students is that it depends a little bit on the sub,” journalism teacher Mary Woodruff said. “It depends a little bit on the teacher whose class it is and their expectation level of their students with the sub, and I think it depends a little bit possibly on the teacher with what’s left for the kids to do.”
Without the stability of the known teacher and leader, students can feel as though a sub is just a babysitter, just an adult figure to watch the class.
“I think we just think they are babysitters so we really don’t care,” junior Brad Jacobs said. “Teachers normally go over whatever we’re supposed to do anyway, so it’s not a big deal if we do anything or not.”
Some students see days with substitute teachers as a free day without the need for hard work.
“Some do, when they walk into the classroom and they look at the sub and they think oh it’s party day or free day,” Mahoney said. “But there are those who respect the subs.”
Although students may see subs as a sort of ‘placeholder teacher’, most of them have prior experience with teaching.
“Sometimes they just look at the substitute as being a babysitter as opposed to being a teacher, but most of us are actual teachers,” Mahoney said. “I taught for three years and I have been subbing for two.”
When planning for a day when they will be out, teachers can request a substitute that they feel is a good leader for their classroom.
“I always try to request a sub,” Woodruff said. “My favourite list of subs is not always available, but I try to request subs, because my classes are fairly unique.”
Teachers can get to know substitutes and their ability to control a class, giving them a clear idea of who they should request.
“I have a lot of equipment and technology, and the kids are working on different things at different times,” Woodruff said. “So I like a sub who knows a little bit about technology and a little bit about the cameras and equipment and is comfortable in that environment.”
Although teachers can request a substitute in their place, there can be extenuating circumstances that leave a lack of security in a well-known substitute.
“Once in awhile, that can’t be helped,” Woodruff said. “There’s an accident or you’re sick in the middle of the night, and there wasn’t a lot of high-level prep going into what could be left. But for the most part, I think it’s not one thing or the other, it’s a combination, but being a sub is a hard thing to do.”
Overall, substitute teachers are given the utmost respect from teachers, even if students do not give the same regard.
“Usually I have really great subs that come in,” Woodruff said. “The few times that I’ve had to just kind of throw it out there, for instance, today I did, and the sub who came in today is a really outstanding person and has a strong teaching background, and knows how to keep a class going. So, generally I’ve had a really good experience here with subs.”
