Fridays' in April there are no subs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t they pull front office people to be subs? We were in a similar situation and when I went past the office there were at least 5 sitting there. Plus nurse, principal, asst principal and 2 counselors.

Because they didn’t sign up to teach/sub?? I’d be furious if I worked in the front office and was pulled in to cover a class. Nope.

So you think other teachers should be pulled away from their jobs to cover other jobs-NO!

Why are you putting words in my mouth? I never said that. I was specifically responding to the PP (you?) who stupidly suggested pulling in front office staff to cover classes. I definitely think principals and assistant principals are fair game - they need to see exactly what’s going on in these classes. But front office staff have their own jobs to do and didn’t sign up to teach. Nor should other teachers be responsible for covering additional classes.

The point is that teachers AND subs are leaving for a reason - zero lack of support or back up regarding disciplinary issues, being at the top of the list. If schools can’t figure out how to remedy this, it’s their own fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only choices for fixing the teacher and sub shortage are:

1. Raise the pay
2. Improve the working conditions/ workload

Anything else will just be a temporary solution. You have to make the job not only tolerable, but desirable if you want quality and consistent staff.

Exactly. For me, the TOP issue is requiring disruptive students to be disciplined and removed from the classroom, immediately. Only when kids see this happening will they realize that they cannot behave badly without consequences. The rest of the kids and teachers deserve respect and back up from administrators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're having class on the auditorium b/c they're combining classes b/c too many teachers are out?
Is that what you're trying to say?

Yes, I guess no one wants to work anymore. Just image how bad it will be when boomers retire.

The current unemployment rate is 3.8%. I think what we need to be clear about is that nobody wants to teach in the current schools anymore. They are perfectly willing to work, just not those jobs.

People could try yelling about how easy they have it again, but it doesn't seem to be convincing. Maybe yell louder about how lazy they get to be, too? That might work.

Of the people looking for work. There are millions more not looking because they dont want to work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t they pull front office people to be subs? We were in a similar situation and when I went past the office there were at least 5 sitting there. Plus nurse, principal, asst principal and 2 counselors.

Bingo!

A lot of people think counselors sit in their office all day long, but in fact, they are probably the busiest employees in the building. The counselors that I work with have students with them for the entire entirety of the day. In addition, the nurse is often helping students with medications, etc. I’ve seen the principal and the assistant principal substitute sometimes.

Question do you think pulling the ESOL teachers to cover is the answer? Do you think they are not seeing kids all day?

Yes I do think that is a good answer. It’s unequitable that ESL kids get 1:4 ratios while the other kids are divided up when a teacher is out and get 1:35+ ratios. ESL is the biggest joke ever. It takes years to master a language and frankly early elementary kids probably learn more of it in gen ed than in ESL class. I plan on getting my certification next year and enjoy the sweet low ratios.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're having class on the auditorium b/c they're combining classes b/c too many teachers are out?
Is that what you're trying to say?

Yes, I guess no one wants to work anymore. Just image how bad it will be when boomers retire.

The current unemployment rate is 3.8%. I think what we need to be clear about is that nobody wants to teach in the current schools anymore. They are perfectly willing to work, just not those jobs.

People could try yelling about how easy they have it again, but it doesn't seem to be convincing. Maybe yell louder about how lazy they get to be, too? That might work.

Of the people looking for work. There are millions more not looking because they dont want to work

Sure, and that's a lot less unemployment than is typical for this country. Right now, we're about 33.3% down from the average unemployment rate.

People want to work MORE than they usually have wanted to, but just not in schools. Chew on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only choices for fixing the teacher and sub shortage are:

1. Raise the pay
2. Improve the working conditions/ workload

Anything else will just be a temporary solution. You have to make the job not only tolerable, but desirable if you want quality and consistent staff.

Exactly. For me, the TOP issue is requiring disruptive students to be disciplined and removed from the classroom, immediately. Only when kids see this happening will they realize that they cannot behave badly without consequences. The rest of the kids and teachers deserve respect and back up from administrators.

+1
I would definitely put #2 ahead of #1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a high school teacher and not only would I not become a teacher if I could go back and change things, I would never be a sub at all, ever, right now or any day or any Friday. I feel horrible for subs.

+1 Elementary school teacher here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think parents want to support teachers but aren’t sure what to do at a macro level. Like day-to-day, of course, raise children with manners, don’t harass teachers about grades, etc. But honestly it feels like it’s *always* been teachers saying “We don’t get paid enough! We don’t get enough support!” So what are parents to do, specifically, beyond supporting teacher raises and referendums for improved school resources? If I don’t like a job or I’m not getting paid enough, I leave that job. My husband is in a union and he actively works with his union to improve pay and working conditions. But it feels like teachers are constantly being martyrs, saying nothing is enough and expecting others to listen endlessly or do the work of advocating for them. If you don’t like your job or want to get paid more, leave your job. Yes, kids will definitely suffer from the lack of educators but the market will eventually adjust to value teachers more both financially and otherwise. Sadly, the endless martyrdom of teachers has become white noise.

Careful, you're turning into white noise. Why don't you do something about that?

Hahaha- specifically you can not just support but actively lobby for teacher raises and referendums for improved school resources.

You know the answer, but haven’t put in the work. And yea I agree teachers are martyrs but they have woken up and we are leaving.
Just yesterday a young teacher told me she was leaving because she is tired of not having enough money.

Yup...no money and no respect from a bunch of parents who think they could do it better. Well have at it Mom and Dad-lots of positions!!! you could even just sub on Fridays or is that the day you sit on here complaining about FCPS?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t they pull front office people to be subs? We were in a similar situation and when I went past the office there were at least 5 sitting there. Plus nurse, principal, asst principal and 2 counselors.

Bingo!

A lot of people think counselors sit in their office all day long, but in fact, they are probably the busiest employees in the building. The counselors that I work with have students with them for the entire entirety of the day. In addition, the nurse is often helping students with medications, etc. I’ve seen the principal and the assistant principal substitute sometimes.

Question do you think pulling the ESOL teachers to cover is the answer? Do you think they are not seeing kids all day?

Yes I do think that is a good answer. It’s unequitable that ESL kids get 1:4 ratios while the other kids are divided up when a teacher is out and get 1:35+ ratios. ESL is the biggest joke ever. It takes years to master a language and frankly early elementary kids probably learn more of it in gen ed than in ESL class. I plan on getting my certification next year and enjoy the sweet low ratios.

\

You sound horrible and terrible at your job-hopefully you just leave the profession. I think you are a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t they pull front office people to be subs? We were in a similar situation and when I went past the office there were at least 5 sitting there. Plus nurse, principal, asst principal and 2 counselors.

Bingo!

A lot of people think counselors sit in their office all day long, but in fact, they are probably the busiest employees in the building. The counselors that I work with have students with them for the entire entirety of the day. In addition, the nurse is often helping students with medications, etc. I’ve seen the principal and the assistant principal substitute sometimes.

I wish counselors or administrators would be pulled to cover classes when there is a serious shortage of staff.
Instead, we hear, "I don't have time. I can't cover that class because I have things to do. Just have X teacher cover, even if it means she doesn't have a single break all day, not even for lumch."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t they pull front office people to be subs? We were in a similar situation and when I went past the office there were at least 5 sitting there. Plus nurse, principal, asst principal and 2 counselors.

Bingo!

A lot of people think counselors sit in their office all day long, but in fact, they are probably the busiest employees in the building. The counselors that I work with have students with them for the entire entirety of the day. In addition, the nurse is often helping students with medications, etc. I’ve seen the principal and the assistant principal substitute sometimes.

Question do you think pulling the ESOL teachers to cover is the answer? Do you think they are not seeing kids all day?

Yes I do think that is a good answer. It’s unequitable that ESL kids get 1:4 ratios while the other kids are divided up when a teacher is out and get 1:35+ ratios. ESL is the biggest joke ever. It takes years to master a language and frankly early elementary kids probably learn more of it in gen ed than in ESL class. I plan on getting my certification next year and enjoy the sweet low ratios.

\

You sound horrible and terrible at your job-hopefully you just leave the profession. I think you are a joke.

Why? Seriously, is it a good use of resources to have a teacher working with 4 kids while all the other kids in the entire grade are stuck with 30+ kids in a class when a teacher is out? How can you honestly say it is better to disrupt the learning of 100+ children who all now have to deal with a change of plans, more kids in each class or being in a different teacher’s room for a day. It isn’t good for the kids, it only works well for the ESL teacher.

I may sound horrible as a team mate to you, but I promise if you start thinking from the perspective of the actual KIDS, it is better for more of them to have the ESL subbing from time to time.

[Anonymous]

The ESOL teachers sub at my school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t they pull front office people to be subs? We were in a similar situation and when I went past the office there were at least 5 sitting there. Plus nurse, principal, asst principal and 2 counselors.

Bingo!

A lot of people think counselors sit in their office all day long, but in fact, they are probably the busiest employees in the building. The counselors that I work with have students with them for the entire entirety of the day. In addition, the nurse is often helping students with medications, etc. I’ve seen the principal and the assistant principal substitute sometimes.

I wish counselors or administrators would be pulled to cover classes when there is a serious shortage of staff.
Instead, we hear, "I don't have time. I can't cover that class because I have things to do. Just have X teacher cover, even if it means she doesn't have a single break all day, not even for lumch."

UGH! This happened regularly at my former school. The counselors would claim they were busy, so the teachers had to cover additional classes. I suppose teachers aren’t ridiculously busy, too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d be willing to be a sub if they fixed discipline issues.

The tricky thing is that most, not all, kids with "behavior issues" have an IEP in place and therefore untouchable.
Little Johnny talks back, won't sit still for story time, and pushes other kids, and has anger issues...sorry. can't do anything except redirect and hope the counselor will arrive soon for his small group session per his IEP....and meanwhile there are probably 10 other kids with some sort IEP in place for something.

+1
I subbed for a week in a classroom that had several kids like this. Wouldn’t join the rest of the class, constantly interrupting and bothering the other kids, refused to line up for specials, climbed into the storage cabinets, constantly made us late… I was told to simply “deal with it,” as the front office frowned on sending kids there for discipline. So I dealt with it by never subbing at that school again.

This is another thing that has became normal in school. “Teacher managed” vs “Admin managed” behaviors. Behaviors in the teacher managed side include minor hitting and kicking, spitting, cursing, disrespect, and insubordination. Admin managed is hate speech/bullying, very inappropriate computer searches, major violence, or inappropriate touch. If the behavior doesn’t fall into those categories we are not supposed to send them to the office or refer them. I don’t know if this is district policy or just my school.

Sadly, this is district policy. It has to be MAJOR for it to be admin managed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only choices for fixing the teacher and sub shortage are:

1. Raise the pay
2. Improve the working conditions/ workload

Anything else will just be a temporary solution. You have to make the job not only tolerable, but desirable if you want quality and consistent staff.

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