Another Day at School B

Yesterday I subbed at School B for the second time. I am astounded by the differences. Same student population -- students from the same parts of my city. Yet the students have a vastly different attitude.

I think I have already commented on the difference in dress between these two schools.

Another difference is in the school rules. In School B, students are told they must remove their hats in class, and either put them away or leave them on their desk. In School A, thery can wear anything, schoolwide, and to make them remove their hats seems to ther students there to be a major imposition, and meets with all kinds of argument.

In School B, there is a schoolwide rule that no electronic devices will be allowed in the classes. Here and there one sees a student trying to sneak a look at some little handheld device, but generally this rule is followed. And all that is necessary if it is not is a gentle reminder that the school rules do not allow these handheld devices in class. In School A, students pull their little devices out automatically and divert their attention to them rather than to the teacher. It is one thing to deal wioth one or two students who need to be reminded (as at School B), but it is quite another to deal with 25 out of 35 students in a class who all want to ignore you as a teacher.

There seems to be a much greater assumption at School B that students will achieve. The students are more respectful of the teachers.

These differences force a substitute teacher consider a moral question: Should I teach where the students are generally more obedient and better behaved, or should I teach where perhaps the students need me more ? How much do I owe students compared to what I owe myself, especially now that I am 70 ?

If anyone reads this, I would certainly like to know your opinion.