Just a sub!

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Home : 2001 : October : 7

Just a sub!
By Carolyn

Yes, I heard this a number of times when I subbed. I am a full-time teacher now and never address subs in that way, for that very reason! Our subs are so near and dear to us where I now teach because they are in such short
supply. I am soooo grateful that they come in for me when I need them. When I subbed back in Pennsylvania, subs were so plentiful that they weren't as appreciated, so this reference was often made. I was made to feel like I was lower than the janitor. At least the janitor was employed full-time!
I even found this lack of regard from a principal when I was having a problem with

a kid. I overheard him (I am quite sure he didn't mean for me to hear) tell the kid that he shouldn't worry about me. I was just a sub who would be gone tomorrow! Imagine telling a kid such a thing!

Hey, the best you can do is try to ignore it. Chalk it up as one of the unpleasant aspects of your job. We the full-time teachers get our share of lack of respect--from parents and occasionally even from our administrators. Some teachers we work with may even look down their nose at us. Unfortunately, it's the world we live in where people think they have to be better than you are. Keep your chin up and consider what a wonderful job you are doing and forget about what they tell you about being "just a sub."