New School, New Problems

I subbed two times this past week – both times were at a middle school at which I had never subbed (it was actually in a new district). Both days were very, very challenging. I have never had big problems at the junior high in the other district in which I sub, so I was really surprised to find both days so difficult. The first day I subbed for an art teacher. Her art classes went well (in the morning I had 7th and 8th graders, and in the afternoon I had 3rd and 4th grade). Her advisory, however, was a NIGHTMARE! The school had a special day on Wednesday, and the students had to help clean the school for about 50 minutes before lunch. There was another teacher who helped me during the clean-up time by taking about 6 of my students to her classroom to help clean. The rest I had to deal with. Some students were wonderful – they worked really hard at cleaning tables and counters. Another group almost outright refused to clean. They talked back to me and were very disrespectful (I was told “There are child labor laws, you know” and “If I don’t help clean at home, I am not going to clean at school”). To get them to do anything, I had to stand over them and watch them clean. I sent the group to straighten some magazines, and they started just shoving the magazines into the cupboard. I told them I needed them to do it right (and they informed me that “Mrs. _______ would never make us do this!”), and they refused, so I took down their names. Then, as I told the class to get back into their seats, this one girl (who had been a big problem all day) refused to listen to me. I told her that if I had to talk to her one more time, I would send her to the office. She mimicked me, and so I sent her to the office. I felt awful. I have never had to send a student to the office. I do not think that the office should be responsible for a substitute’s inability to control his or her class. But I was at my wit’s end. I went to the office to apologize, and the secretary laughed and said she didn’t blame me. Apparently this girl is just trouble.

My other day was also challenging. I was subbing for 7th grade special ed. Much like the non-workers the other day, I had many students who just didn’t listen, refused to work, and refused to shut up. I actually made 4 students stay after class until they proved to me they could sit quietly. It was the same tactic the ESL teacher used on a couple of 1st graders! Surprisingly, they did sit quietly, and didn’t really complain. There was an aide in the room during the most challenging period (and several other periods), and she did nothing to help keep the kids on task. She just sat at her desk. After school I chatted with her about school, life, etc. – turns out she really doesn’t care for kids this age and is seriously considering leaving her job (I think she would prefer much younger kids). That is fine, but while you are still in the job, you could help out a little. She was a really nice lady, but I was perplexed by her lack of involvement. She is there to assist the teacher, yet she did nothing.