"Gossip"

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"Gossip"
By Steve

I guess that pretty well shuts down this board, doesn't it? :-)

Well, Renee, I assume by your comments that the two subs you speak of were engaging in an inappropriate level/type of discussion, such as openly criticizing
various teachers' teaching methods and classrooms. If that's the case, then I agree with you. If not, might I ask why you would not value their input?
As for being "gleeful", yes, I agree that was not the best way the sub could've handled the situation. Being "gleeful" at a coworkers expense is not a good practice in any profession.
But your final comment I do take issue with - "subs

- keep your comments to yourself". The way that's stated comes across pretty hostile, whether you intended it that way or not (and I sincerely hope not). That last sentence you've written comes across like subs are just warm-body underlings who can say nothing intelligent or useful and who should be seen and not heard. Again, maybe you didn't mean it that way, but it could be taken that way. If I've completely misread it, then I apologize for the misunderstanding. If you did mean it that way...no comment.

By the way, it's not uncommon (at least in my experience) for subs to talk to each other about various children, classrooms, and teachers - it's a survival mechanism. It provides "reconnaissance" about good/bad/indifferent classes or teachers to sub for, "heads ups" about particular students (good or bad), and allows them to vent about their day to someone who's "been there, done that". So it's not necessarily sheer gossip for the sake of gossip, but exchanging useful information. But there _is_ a line where it would cross the boundaries, so it shouldn't be engaged in to excess or in poor taste or at the expense of anyone. Good judgement is needed, which some have, some don't. The same can be said of regular classroom teachers.