Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Substitutes...the lack thereof



Substitutes in Adams County, Illinois are becoming increasingly hard to come by. Why? Are they not paid well enough? Do the kids act differently towards subs in this day and age? Is the lack of substitutes just hurting our area or is it a state, or even nationwide, problem? These are some of the questions I have concerning this somewhat serious situation.

The problem is serious due to the fact that the state requires us, as teachers, to get so many continuing professional development units (CPDUs). I think the professional development is a necessity but if schools cannot get substitutes for teachers to get out of the classroom, attend seminars and conferences, to better their teaching skills and get their CPDUs, then we are fighting a losing battle. There has to be something done!

I will also say that, at our particular school, the quality of the substitute goes down drastically after the first two or three are hired. I am talking about professionalism and the ability to control a classroom. Some of our subs think that it is their right to get onto the computers that are in our room or to change lesson plans at their leisure! Do any of you have any ideas on what to do to solve, or at least alleviate, this problem?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes ,I believe certain kids do act different when there is a substitute.The reason being they think that they can't get in trouble.The other thing is teacher's do not only need to go to meetings but also to get a day off or if they are sick.

Anonymous said...

I used to be a substitute teacher for several school districts in Adams county as well as the Hannibal school district. The pay in Hannibal is really bad. The pay in Adams county isnt too bad I suppose, you really only work 5.5 hours and make $75 a day. The work is sparse unless youve been "in the system" for a while. The kids are definately challenging for subs, on the other hand I found a huge difference in the kids b/t smaller and larger schools. The kids in the smaller schools are so much better behaved. Just my 2 cents..

Robert

www.quincyforums.com

Anonymous said...

Why don't teachers get their continuing professional development units in the Summer when they are off?

Anonymous said...

I don't really know if it's the students fault, but if it is, then it might be because the children are used to the teacher that is usually there.If it isn't the students fault, then it must be the sub's fault.


THOMAS ULRICH
9-28-07

Shaun Carey said...

Concerning teachers getting their professional development units during the summer: Some teachers take college courses during the summer and receive CPDUs but if you don't take college courses then you are pretty much out of luck for the most part. When school is over, chances for CPDUs become scarce. It would be the perfect time to get CPDUs! Maybe that is an idea that the state should look at instituting.

Anonymous said...

Mr.Carey I have to say this when the 8th grade has a substitute teacher we get out of hand. So probably it is the student's fault sometimes. Like this one time in sixth grade we had Mrs.Cromie as a substitute teacher and we were so bad that we made her cry. I know it is nothing to proud of, but this is a sad thought. I think they just look at the 8th grade and run. Please don't tell Mrs.Cromie about what I said it is kind of embarrassing.

Tyler Shelton

Anonymous said...

I do not think alot of the substitutes are nice and respectful.I think they should hire nice and respectful substitutes.Some people are scared of some of the subs.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Carey,
I honestly can see why there are not as many substitute teachers any more. Not to sound like a grandma but, kids these days are very disrespectful. They don't understand that just because the sub is not their regular teacher, the sub is still an adult and is in charge of the kids. Anymore kids think it is fun to make subs so irritated that they just loose their minds. I feel sorry for the subs. I think it is more the kids problems than the substitute teachers. There really is not a way to solve this problem because unless parents start controlling their kids and teach them to respect, kids are going to be a problem with subs.
-Catherine Richards

Anonymous said...

Roman Volk: 10-1-07
Mr.carey I think one of the reasons why we are lacking an amount of substite is because we the students don't really care how or what the teacher thinks about us so we don't behave usually but I can't say that about everyone.

mello.yello13 said...

I don't know why there arne't many susbstitutes anymore. Maybe its because of all the shootings and stuff happening around. Imagine being a substitute and seeing a person with a gun walking around outside your classroom. That would be FREAKY!

Shaun Carey said...

Matt,

I never thought about the violence issue before. That might be one of the reasons for low substitute numbers.

Anonymous said...

Wow i strongly agree with this.
I am tired of having Mrs. Frye, we have had her 5 times between ag and home ec. and she is retired and i really dont agree with her coming back.. she's really rude. I think they need some good subs and more. I remember when Mrs. Orr wanted a sub for the state softball game, and they told her she couldn't have one because there was none left. thats terrible.

-Courtney Rees

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree that kids act differently when a sub is teaching. This is bc maybe the kids feel the sub is to strict and want to push their buttons. Maybe they feel like the sub has no authority and can't punish them like their real teacher can.

I also wanted to say that I feel for Mrs.Orr. She told us that she really wanted to go to the girl STATE softball game, but couldn't bc their were no subs. How sad is that when we can't get any subs bc no one wants our 8th grade class!

Jessa Patrick 8th

Anonymous said...

I,believe that there is not a lot of subs at our school.This is one way you might be able to solve the problem of subs getting on the computer and changing the lesson assigment.You could maybe try and block the lesson assigments so you could be the only one to get on there, and you could just write the lesson we are supposed to do on a piece of paper for the sub. Sometimes i think it's the kids fault for making the subs yell at them.Maybe the sub and the kids could come to a comprise.
Sierra Dietrich

Anonymous said...

I don't believe its the subs fault I think its the kids fault. They think that because the real teacher isnt there they can get away with anything. Often you may find that they try to lie about what the teacher does so it will fit with what they want to do and not what there susposed to do. If anyone is to blame its the kids. I may still b only in 7th grade but i believe that its the students fault for cheating the teacher. And if they lie and the teacher doesn't catch them they get a goo report. If your blaming the subs maby you should hide a video camera in the room to see who is to blame the kids, or the subs. Next time they try to blame the sub they should watch what the kids do when there not there. Maby just maby more subs will vollenter because they think that the school isn't half bad after all. That would make more days for the teachers do what the want and not have to go there if there sick or maby someone died. It will give teachers more slack as well as thew students and subs.
7th Grader:Alex Zanger