Cleaning

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Home : 2001 : April : 18

Cleaning
By Steve

I agree that major changes shouldn't be made unless absolutely necessary, and you should keep track of changes you do make and try to return the room as you got it as much as possible. On the other hand, the teacher should
try to avoid leaving such a mess that the sub can't do their job, either. I've tried to find materials that teachers mention in their notes, and a messy room makes it difficult.
There are a couple of statements in Karen's post that I question, though - although maybe Karen didn't mean for them to come across as strong as they sound.
First of all, "if you move my stuff around you

will not be invited to sub in my classroom again." What "stuff" does this apply to, and how exactly will you know the circumstances that required the sub to move it? Perhaps the sub had a perfectly justifiable reason for doing so. Don't assume. We're talking about someone's livelihood here, so I hope you would not make such a decision lightly. Unless you yourself are infallible?

Second, "My room is mine even when you are subbing in it." Actually, to be precise it is the district's room, and the sub is a paid employee of the district doing their job. I do understand the possessiveness, though - I've had "my" classroom, too. It's not a bad thing, but be sure it doesn't get in the way of the sub doing _their_ job.

Third, "I am responsible for everything about my children and my classroom. That means I make the decisions." Right - to a point. For the time you are gone, the sub makes the decisions, and is responsible for the children. If something happens to a child while you are gone, it will not be your head on the block - it will be the sub's. And however you might wish to, you cannot control what will happen when you are gone - the sub makes the calls.