substitute teaching and fairness

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Home : 2002 : October : 29

substitute teaching and fairness
By Cathy-Dee

Unfortunately in the world of substitute teaching you have no rights or very few. And that is the same of any career where you are "replacing" someone for a short time. The longer you stay in that role the harder it is
to move out of it. Is it fair, no, but then life is not always fair.
A HUGE PART of the problem is budgets. Our governments simply do not give schools enough budget to work with. Teaching has become one of the few careers where experience actually can hurt you rather than help you. The longer you teach whether substituting or full-time the more money you will make. Thus if you have

been substitute teaching for 2-3 years and they can choose to hire you or someone fresh out of University, - it is cheaper for them to take the new teacher. I teach in a more remote area and would love to move closer to my family and a city. But with 10 years experience it has become difficult for me to move. Again they have to pay me more so I have to be able to offer them something they cannot find in a less experienced teacher.

And I caution you not to lump all teachers, schools and districts into the same category. I know in my school and in my district substitute teachers (especially qualified subs) are very respected and appreciated. Yes we appreciate the unqualified subs too, it's just that we have so few qualified subs and it can make a huge difference in the classroom depending on who you get.

I also know the more "waves" you make, the less likely you will ever get on. As a sub they have full control, they can call you in or not. But if they hire you as a teacher then it is much harder to "fire you" if it became necessary. I'm not saying you in particular - but sometimes when you are angry you can say things that you may later regret. So before you go to the administrator take a long walk, calm down and decide on what you are going to say and do it in a calm, rational manner that will not put him on the defensive.

You may find it difficult to move into a position from all of this. I would watch carefully for those short-term positions - 4 months or 6 months and try for them as often as possible. Make sure you are working in as many schools as possible and set a goal for yourself if you do not want to be doing this forever. And let the powers that be know that goal - that if you are not able to get a full-time position next year then you are going to move to another district or look at another career as you just can't continue only subbing. NOW if they really want you, they'll find a position for you. If not then it probably wouldn't have been worthwhile working for them in the end anyway.

I hope things work out for you in the end