Bit of a rant:Concern about new pool of MCPS subs (from a teacher)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the explanations for this was that it would enable university students getting education degrees the ability to sub-- that seems like a win-win. They get some experience before taking on their own class, and they will be more likely to try to actually teach.

Fact is that after elementary school, most subs are just babysitters, anyway. Not sure there's any reason to require a bachelors degree if they are just going to let the kids have a free period, anyway.

Either raise pay, maintain high educational expectations, and hold them accountable for teaching. Or accept almost anyone, pay little, and accept that they are just babysitters.

+1
I was looking for this thread earlier today to post exactly this. "The revision—requiring that a candidate have earned an Associate of Arts degree or 60 college credits—will expand the pool of available substitutes" and three of the benefits cited are:
- Encourage more individuals to become teachers;
- Opportunity to develop skills for future teachers;
- Opportunity for college students to work while going to school and/or during college breaks

I'm a teacher and I welcome this change. I think that a college student will at least be earnest about trying to do a good job (please just follow basic instructions) rather than the non-teacher bench warmers or the retired teachers who either just want to talk about their glory days, or who throw out your plans because they have a "better" idea.

Here's the memo: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BDPKE55169C3/$file/Sub%20Tchr%20Qualifications%20Staffing%20190711.pdf

[Anonymous]

I’ve hosted student teachers. Seniors will be in their practicing year and unavailable to sub. I suppose it might draw from the pool of juniors, but how many college juniors can arrange their class schedules to be free during public school hours? I don’t think enough FT education majors will be free to sub enough days to fill up this cadre of subs without a 4 year degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve hosted student teachers. Seniors will be in their practicing year and unavailable to sub. I suppose it might draw from the pool of juniors, but how many college juniors can arrange their class schedules to be free during public school hours? I don’t think enough FT education majors will be free to sub enough days to fill up this cadre of subs without a 4 year degree.

+1. I think the school board is trying to sell it like they’re going to get hundreds of education majors to sign on as subs. They may get a few during breaks or whatever, but the majority of the people with 60 credit hours who get hired under this new plan will just be less educated than the current pool of subs and less likely to complain about the pay.