Zero draft
Zero Draft (posted June 18, 2007)
Something about being a substitute for a long time, different schools, different rules, never feeling at home, less responsibility, because you are just the sub. No respect, earn the respect, do a good job in hopes of being hired. Not seen as a teacher, half seen as an adult. Everyone should experience should experience being just the sub, before getting a full time or a contract. The late night phone call, the early, wee hours of the morning, phone call. You have to be flexible, prompt, reliable, and always thinking this might be the call that gets the contract if you want to lose the title just the sub. One day here, two days there praying to know ahead of time when will be the next day I work. Summer jobs and tutoring to pay the bills, because you don’t have the steady paycheck when you are just the sub. Pack a lunch, eat alone, work long enough, just to be invited into the teachers lounge. Wanting respect, having to earn respect, “I don’t have to listen to you, you’re just the sub.” Long drives, getting lost, on the road and then in the building once you find it. No roots. No colleague, only posers stabbing you in the back. Same education, or better, same certificate, or better. Going for the extra degree in hopes it will look better to the system with no professional development available. Go the extra mile and never get noticed, broken promises. Not having “the right name” for that district. Seeing a no experienced niece or nephew straight out of college get the contract, after 7 year of being called just the sub. “Test” worries, parent-teacher conferences are of no concern because you’ll be in a new school tomorrow and you’ll be just the sub. Doing it everyone else’s way until you get your chance. Knowing there is a bigger purpose. Never giving up hope. Because some day you won’t be known as “Just The Sub.”
Just the Sub 1a Posted on June 19th, 2007.
Negative
It does not matter if it is for several days, a few months or seven years, there is no feeling of home when you are just the sub.
Late night phone calls or wee early morning, and it could be one day here, two days there, only hope to know in advance so you do not get lost.
Flexible, prompt, and reliable is all they see when they need a sub.
Lack of paycheck, lack of respect, “They don’t have to listen to you,
because you’re just the sub.”
Pack a lunch and eat alone and hope to be there long enough to be invited into the teachers’ lounge.
You have the same degree but no colleagues and your name is all wrong.
You are not seen as an equal when you are just a sub.
Positive
It does not matter if it is for several days, a few months or seven years, you can have a lot of fun when you are just the sub.
No parent/teacher conferences, no test scores, and if I screw it up too bad, I will be in a different building tomorrow.
Never giving up hope in the bigger picture because there is a plan and going through the negative only makes us appreciate the positive and someday you won’t be known as just the sub.
Eddy Time
Just the Sub
Negative
It does not matter if it is for several days, a few months or seven years,
there is no feeling of home when
you’re just the sub.
Late night phone calls or wee early morning,
it could be one day here, two days there, only hope to know in advance so you do not get lost.
Flexible, prompt, and reliable is all they see when they need a sub.
Lack of paycheck, lack of respect, “They don’t have to listen to you, because
you’re just the sub.”
Pack a lunch and eat alone and hope to be there long enough to be invited into the teachers’ lounge.
You have the same degree but no colleagues and your name is all wrong.
You are not seen as an equal when
you’re just the sub.
Positive
It does not matter if it is for several days, a few months or seven years,
you can have a lot of fun when
you are just the sub.
No parent/teacher conferences, no test scores, and if I screw it up too bad, I will be in a different building tomorrow.
Never giving up hope in the bigger picture because there is a plan,
going through the negative only makes us appreciate the positive
and someday you won’t be known as
just the sub.
Just the Sub 1b Posted on June 19th, 2007.
Substitute teachers, whether for a few months or several years, have to go through some trying experiences. Be prepared to feel the unappreciated loneliness. Respect is not just a given, it has to be earned and time is not on your side. The late night phone calls, the early morning phone calls, the days without calls can weigh on your nerves. Before getting a full time contract, every certified teacher should go through the aggravations of being a “sub”. Educated babysitters, maybe, but doing the best job you can, in the given situation, makes you the kind of person that every classroom wants. Flexibility, promptness, and reliability are the qualities that make them keep calling you. There is a list that they can choose from and yet, they call you. Lunch packed, clothes picked out and you are ready at a moments notice. They throw you a compliment and take of advantage of you, because you let them. One day here, two days there, when secretly you hope to be somewhere long enough to eat with the faculty. You have the same certificate, but no real colleagues. Only the posers keep you close to learn what you know- and then they use it. You are not seen as a teacher, by some not even an adult as they say those words you fear, “I don’t have to listen to you; you’re just the sub.” That fact is undeniable. Just get through the day (or morning, or hour) and you will be somewhere else tomorrow. You are a good person and can better yourself; but be prepared to pay for it, because professional development is not free when you are a substitute. Summer jobs and tutoring can be used to supplement the income and help to pay the bills (because you don’t have the steady paycheck when you are just the sub.) Get a map and an early start because if you do not know the lay of the land, you will get lost, if not during the endless drive then somewhere in the district or building. But wait. There is hope on the horizon when you are told that you are the next one hired. Nope, a niece/nephew will graduate by then and the opening must be for them. A ‘god-son’ with no experience will cruise in and take that contract. Maybe next time will be contracted out to fulfill your dreams. You are a teacher, and in it for a reason. Right now there are no pressures from parents, no pressures from tests. You have made it this far and it hasn’t killed you. Have fun with it. Do it everyone else’s way until you get your chance. Know that there is a reason and you have the patience to see how this plays out. Some day you will have that contract, you will have your own room and you will no longer be known as just the sub.
Diamente
Substitute
Inexperienced, Irresponsible,
Wanting, Hoping, Waiting,
Babysitter, stand-in, Colleague, Professional,
Conferencing, Facilitating, Assessing,
Permanent, Contractual,
Teacher
Just the Sub 2
Lunch packed, clothes picked out and you are ready at a moments notice. Whether during the endless drive, or maybe somewhere in the district or even the building, get a map and an early start in case you get lost. . The late night phone calls, the early morning phone calls, the days without calls can weigh on the nerves. One day here, two days there, when secretly you hope to be somewhere long enough to be invited to eat with the faculty. You have the same certificate, but no real colleagues. Only the posers keep you close to learn what you know- and then they use it. You are not seen as a teacher, by some not even an adult -as they say those words you fear, “I don’t have to listen to you; you’re just the sub.” That fact is undeniable. Just get through the day (or the morning, or the hour) and you can do it all again the next day, in a new place.
Substitute teachers, whether for a few months or several years, have to go through some trying experiences. Before getting a full time contract, every certified teacher should go through the aggravations of being the “sub”. Teachers are teachers for a reason, and right now, there are no pressures from parents, no pressures from tests. Have fun with it. Do it everyone else’s way until you get your chance. Be prepared, however, to feel the unappreciated loneliness. Respect is not just a given, it has to be earned and you are invisible when you are just the sub.
Educated babysitters? Maybe. But doing the best job you can, in the given situation, makes you the kind of person for which every classroom longs. Flexibility, promptness, and reliability are the qualities that make principals keep calling you. There is a list of people from which they can choose and yet, they call you. They throw you a compliment with one breathe and take advantage of you with the next. Why? Because you are just the sub.
Summer jobs and tutoring can be used to supplement the income and help to pay the bills (because you don’t have the steady paycheck when you are just the sub.) But wait. There is hope on the horizon, a job is coming open, and you have been promised the next position. Nope, false alarm, a district nephew will graduate by then and the opening must be held for him. A ‘god-son’ with no experience will cruise in and take that contract, but the administrators promise to still use you, as the sub. Maybe next time will be contracted out to fulfill your dreams. You have made it this far and it has not killed you. Know that there is a reason and you have the patience to see how this plays out. Picture that day, the day when you get two phone calls. The first is from that new district that took chance on you and they say, “Congratulations, the contract is yours.”
The second call comes only moments later and the administrator says, “Hey Sub, can you come in today? I am desperate!”
Simply reply, “Well, I ‘m not.” And hang up the phone. All the trials, all the heartbreak, all the loneliness will have ended. On that day you will have that contract, you will have your own room (with a window) and you will no longer be known as just the sub.
Eddy Talk
Just the Sub
Lunch packed, clothes picked out and you are ready at a moment,s notice. Whether during the endless drive, or maybe somewhere in the district or even the building, get a map and an early start in case you get lost. . The late night phone calls, the early morning phone calls, the days without calls can weigh on the nerves. One day here, two days there, when secretly you hope to be somewhere long enough to be invited to eat with the faculty. You have the same certificate, but no real colleagues. Only the posers keep you close to learn what you know — and then they use it. You are not seen as a teacher, by some not even an adult — as they say those words you fear, “I don’t have to listen to you; you’re just the sub.” That fact is undeniable. Just get through the day (or the morning, or the hour) and you can do it all again the next day, in a new place.
Substitute teachers, whether for a few months or several years, have to go through some trying experiences. Before getting a full time contract, every certified teacher should go through the aggravations of being the “sub.” Teachers are teachers for a reason, and right now, there are no pressures from parents, no pressures from tests. Have fun with it. Do it everyone else’s way until you get your chance. Be prepared, however, to feel the unappreciated loneliness. Respect is not just a given, it has to be earned and you are invisible when you are just the sub.
Educated babysitters? Maybe. But doing the best job you can, in the given situation, makes you the kind of person for which every classroom longs. Flexibility, promptness, and reliability are the qualities that make principals keep calling you. There is a list of people from which they can choose and yet, they call you. They throw you a compliment with one breath and take advantage of you with the next. Why? Because you are just the sub.
Summer jobs and tutoring can be used to supplement the income and help to pay the bills (because you don’t have the steady paycheck when you are just the sub.) But wait! There is hope on the horizon, a job is coming open, and you have been promised the next position.
Nope, false alarm, a district nephew will graduate by then and the opening must be held for him. A ‘god-son’ with no experience will cruise in and take that contract, but the administrators promise to still use you, as the sub. Maybe next time will be contracted out to fulfill your dreams. You have made it this far and it has not killed you. Know that there is a reason and you have the patience to see how this plays out. Picture that day, the day when you get two phone calls. The first is from that new district that took a chance on you and they say, “Congratulations, the contract is yours.”
The second call comes only moments later and the administrator says, “Hey, Sub. Can you come in today? I am desperate!”
Simply reply, “Well, I ‘m not.” And hang up the phone knowing all the trials, all the heartbreak, all the loneliness will have ended. On that day you will have that contract, you will have your own room (with a window) and you will no longer be known as just the sub.
