Substitute Duty (like Jury Duty) - what do you think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely LOVE this idea. LOVE.

It’s NEVER going to happen. NEVER.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of subs are already "untrained randos" so it might not be much worse than the current situation although possibly a pedophile magnet type of position.

Unfortunately, you're 100% right. Subbing doesn't pay enough to attract enough normal and competent people who can do the job in a professional manner. I am a SAHM with a math degree and teaching experience, and absolutely no desire to go full-cringe and start talking to stranger kids about inappropriate subjects. (In HS we had all sorts of rando subs who talked religion, politics, sex lives, and treated students like their bartender/therapist.) I'm sure I could be an unproblematic sub. Unfortunately it doesn't pay enough for me to cover a high quality child care set up for my mildly SN kid. Not surprising that a system that underpays its regular workforce also underpays its back ups.

I remember an AP English Lit sub who started talking about herself being a 30 yo virgin. I can't remember what book we were discussing that provided context for this TMI admission, but it was sooooo awkward. Our regular teacher was out for a couple of weeks for medical reasons, so if someone hadn't complained and had her replaced, she could have been there for a while. I don't know who complained to the principal about Ms. Virgin, but thanks to whoever did it because she was was quickly replaced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NO

How many more ridiculous ways are we going to come up with the avoid the bottom line: Teaching and subbing don’t pay enough. If you want more people to be teachers and subs, PAY THEM MORE. The same way you get more people to do any other job on earth.

We’re all just playing dumb to this reality.

100% this

[Anonymous]

Such a dumb idea. Not even worth responding to. Ever taken a basic Economics class OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NO

How many more ridiculous ways are we going to come up with the avoid the bottom line: Teaching and subbing don’t pay enough. If you want more people to be teachers and subs, PAY THEM MORE. The same way you get more people to do any other job on earth.

We’re all just playing dumb to this reality.

100% this

Or the basic bottom line that Public school is broken in this country.
No, OP, I do not want substitute duty like jury duty. I don't want people begrudgingly showing up to babysit my middle schooler once a year and trying to get out of it by claiming one of the million reasons people give for getting out of jury duty. Not to mention, being a substitute is hopefully has more requirements than a pulse and an ID. I realize that it's gotten to that point which only lends to the belief that public schooling is broken in this country.

Despite what some may think, this isn't because parents don't want to show up and be involved. We don't need to be forced with substitute duty. Most of us are good people who want the best for our kids. It's a contentious situation after the pandemic between parents, teachers, administrators and the school system. Why on earth would forcing parents parents to miss more work?

Parents have the right to be critical of systemic failures. We have the right to be critical of a school which doesn't have staffing to meet our child's needs. We are compelled to send our child to a K-12 school somewhere. If we don't have the means to pay more than our taxes, we have to send them to public school or homeschool. Since we are paying our taxes and forced to send our children to the schools for 180 days a year, it's amazing to me that we don't have an organized voice which isn't a PTO/PTA. If they ever choose to compel me to spend a few days a year as a substitute in order to teach some weird lesson of how hard teachers have it or how difficult it is to hire substitutes for minimal hourly pay, I may be the one who starts that union.

[Anonymous]

Hard no. There are way too many idiots in this country.