Today is yet another day that I find myself subbing for a classroom full of children. I’ve been through a few days of subbing now & today I’ll be in a classroom of first graders. This is far from my toughest job (I’m subbing for the resource class on Thursday), but it is certainly not easy.
From subbing, I have learned three major things about life & myself.
1) I do not want to teach full-time
2) Teachers deserve better wages
3) One day can mean a lot
To my first point, I will always teach in some respect. Either by having a Sunday school class, subbing, or something in between, I’ll always be teaching in some form. However, being in the same classroom, with the same children, every single day? That just doesn’t fit me. It is a little too repetitive, a little too static for my tastes. If I’m going to be in a classroom, let’s space it out, shake up the mold a bit. Maybe high school could be an option once I’m older, but for now, being a full-time classroom teacher just is not my cup of tea.
To my second point, teachers simply do not get paid enough for what they do. For thirteen or fourteen weeks a semester, so about twenty-eight weeks in a year, that teacher represents a lot to a classroom full of students. They can be a harbinger of punishment or a beacon of hope, depending on the child & the day. Teachers get called a lot of names, from negative to positive, & not many of them are told that they are loved or appreciated. Sadly, their pay scale reflects that. For the persons who mold our youngest of minds, who volunteer to shape the future of the world, day by day & hour by hour, they deserve a lot more than they get credit for. Surely we can start giving thanks by actually paying them close to a living wage?
To my third point, one day in one classroom with one or two groups of kids may not seem like a lot. I have already learned, however, that a lot can happen in one day. From the start of one school day to the end, I have watched best friends become enemies, a student almost cry from understanding a simple direction for the first time, a class full of second graders tremble in fear of punishment dealt by another teacher, & the most innocent of gestures from a “problem” child.
With the last example, I had been given instructions that one of my children for the day was standoffish, emotional, & overall, just a bear to deal with. Now I, for one, dislike judging people based on someone else’s opinions, so I take every teacher’s assessment with a grain of salt. From the moment I met this kid, yes, I could see they were different & could become a problem. However, just before that kid left for their secondary courses for the afternoon, this “unapproachable”, “disconnected” child offered me one of their prized possessions, a rock from their rock collection. The gesture alone made my heart melt & when I asked the child why they thought I needed the rock, they said “Because you were nice to me & people aren’t usually nice to me.”
One day to one child can mean everything.
So, what is your experience with working & making a difference?
How did you view substitute teachers as a kid?
What can you do with one day to make a difference in someone’s life?
Kimberly Woods 
I agree with your taking teachers’ warnings with a grain of salt, especially when phrased in negative terms. Children are often so aware the negative impressions they’ve made on their regular teachers and see a sub as a chance to make a fresh start, if only for one day. Plus with a different perspective, personality, and approach, there’s no reason for us to expect the same results with any student as the regular teacher has had.
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