What Subs Are Up Against

Sorry I am a little behind schedule in posting in this blog -- I have about six going at the same time, and every day is too short.

I read an account from a Los Angeles Area teacher who had a terrible day and who seems to teach in a ghetto school such as the one I teach in. (The politically correct term, I have learned, is "an inner city school.") I wrote a few comments to this teacher because I have had a few days like he or she did, and these taught me a few things.

Here's what I wrote:

Hello, Beatendownsub, I read your description of your horrible day and sympathize with you. I have have had days like that, too.
I am in a city in California where ALL the high schools are rather like what you describe. I sub at only one school, and usually work 4 - 5 days/week during the regular school year. It sounds as though our schools are similar.
I am 70 years old, have subbed all last school year and will be returning this year. This past year was my first year.
I have been faced with situations similar to what you described in classrooms away from the main school building in which the teacher who was absent TOOK the phone the day before. I learned the hard way always to bring a charged cell phone with me because I do not want to be isolated away from any possible help. I know from memory the number I must call.
Many of the teachers ask for me ahead of time now. There are two out of many whom I have subbed for whose classes I will refuse to sub for this coming year. The way kids behave depends to a certain degree on how their regular teacher has them trained.
I was advised by one of the vice principals on how to deal with unruly situations. Tell the offending kid, "You have 30 seconds to be in your seat and be quiet, starting NOW." Walk away from the kid to avoid a confrontation, but keep counting. At 31, if the kid is still not in his or her seat, return and ask his or her name.
If the student won't give a name, then call for security and tell them you have a student who will not identify him or herself. If the student gives a name and you suspect it is false, demand to see an ID. If there is said to be no ID, tell the student to go to the office and get a printout with his or her photo on it and bring it back to you. If the kid refuses, call security and have the kid removed.
If the kid gives a name, take out a write-up slip and write the kid up. Call the office, ask to have an office helper sent to your classroom to bring a writeup slip to the office and to escort the kid to the office.
I often start a class by passing around a sign-in sheet and having every kid sign in. Then about 20 minutes before the end of the class, when a few kids have slipped out, I pass around another sign in sheet. Those who don't sign the second sheet get marked absent.
I leave copious notes for the regular teacher, and I go see the regular teacher the next day during conference period or at some other time convenient for the teacher.
The key to much of this, of course, is having a working cell phone.
Don't give up. Stay resolute. You are fighting the good fight.
Richard Goodman