Anonymous wrote:Dear OP, when you go to a school and they change you to an assignment you don't want to take, say thanks and then walk out. You are in demand and they can either listen or have zero subs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:OK, first of all, you were supposed to sub for a teacher or aid, and neither one ever has actual cleaning duty in the cafeteria. Crowd control yes, cleaning no. So you did not need to agree to that part, and they were way over the line even asking you to do it. Second, other than the cleaning, substitutes take the place of teachers, and teachers often do get asked to run around to different places and do extra duties like cafeteria duty (with NO cleaning, though). So you shouldn't complain about that, as plenty of teachers have to do the same (specialists get pulled all the time to do this and that around the school).

Teacher here - I have had to do lunch duty, and I have helped clean up spills and messes during lunch. The custodians do a thorough cleaning after lunches are over, but when on lunch duty we don't call the custodians every time a child spills something, we help clean it up the best we can so the child can finish their lunch in the short 30 minutes they have.

Never and I've taught in this county for 15 years.

I think that's probably because you are a classroom teacher. At my school, it's the non-classroom-based teachers (special ed, reading specialist or reading focus, staff development, and counselors) who are asked to do these duties. Classroom teachers are asked to do recess if there is no one else, which is rare. What does happen to classroom teachers is if there is no one to cover classes, a class may be split among the other grade level teachers. I am the PP above, am a non-classroom based teacher (special ed) and have had to do lunch duty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, first of all, you were supposed to sub for a teacher or aid, and neither one ever has actual cleaning duty in the cafeteria. Crowd control yes, cleaning no. So you did not need to agree to that part, and they were way over the line even asking you to do it. Second, other than the cleaning, substitutes take the place of teachers, and teachers often do get asked to run around to different places and do extra duties like cafeteria duty (with NO cleaning, though). So you shouldn't complain about that, as plenty of teachers have to do the same (specialists get pulled all the time to do this and that around the school).

Teacher here - I have had to do lunch duty, and I have helped clean up spills and messes during lunch. The custodians do a thorough cleaning after lunches are over, but when on lunch duty we don't call the custodians every time a child spills something, we help clean it up the best we can so the child can finish their lunch in the short 30 minutes they have.

Never and I've taught in this county for 15 years.

I think that's probably because you are a classroom teacher. At my school, it's the non-classroom-based teachers (special ed, reading specialist or reading focus, staff development, and counselors) who are asked to do these duties. Classroom teachers are asked to do recess if there is no one else, which is rare. What does happen to classroom teachers is if there is no one to cover classes, a class may be split among the other grade level teachers. I am the PP above, am a non-classroom based teacher (special ed) and have had to do lunch duty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, first of all, you were supposed to sub for a teacher or aid, and neither one ever has actual cleaning duty in the cafeteria. Crowd control yes, cleaning no. So you did not need to agree to that part, and they were way over the line even asking you to do it. Second, other than the cleaning, substitutes take the place of teachers, and teachers often do get asked to run around to different places and do extra duties like cafeteria duty (with NO cleaning, though). So you shouldn't complain about that, as plenty of teachers have to do the same (specialists get pulled all the time to do this and that around the school).

Teacher here - I have had to do lunch duty, and I have helped clean up spills and messes during lunch. The custodians do a thorough cleaning after lunches are over, but when on lunch duty we don't call the custodians every time a child spills something, we help clean it up the best we can so the child can finish their lunch in the short 30 minutes they have.

Never and I've taught in this county for 15 years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prospective teachers (if there any)- make sure to work in a district with a clear contract and a strong union so you aren’t used like this.

My county has a strong union and I am used like this. We can be asked to do additional duties in emergency situations. The reality is there are not enough substitutes and unfilled paraeducator positions. It’s just going to get worse, and I’m honestly scared that if things don’t change somehow there will be a full blown education crisis.

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Anonymous wrote:I'm a sub who is really sick of accepting a job, only to arrive at the school and be told I'll be doing something else. This has happened to me four times in the last month. Most recently, I signed up to sub for a 3rd grade teacher. Upon arrival, I was told they didn't need me anymore, but would I please monitor the cafeteria for two hours and then report back to the office for further instructions? I was furious, but tried to remain outwardly flexible and friendly, so I did as I was asked. After two miserable hours in the cafeteria, getting to clean up messes and scrub tables while surrounded by ear-splitting decibels, I returned to the office. I was then asked to cover for a couple of different teachers, which had me running back and forth to their classes until dismissal when I was told to help with bus duty.

Schools: when subs accept a job, make sure that you call them to cancel if they're no longer needed. This is not acceptable.

I'm sorry you feel this way, but this is my life as a non-classroom teacher. I go into work each day holding my breath to see if I will have a normal day, where I can do my actual job, or if I will be pulled for other duties. I am often doing cafeteria/recess duty/bus duty, covering a classroom, covering as a one-to-one para for a special needs child, or even sitting with a child who cannot be in their classroom after a significant behavior issue. This is the reality of public education today, with teacher and sub shortages. You are allowed to say no and ask how else you could help, or just leave. We have had subs do this in the past, and then we have subs who understand our struggles and pitch in however they are asked.

But it's not ok and we all need to start saying that.

Public education-gaslighting at it's best-"do it for the kids" "be a team player" "do whatever is needed" ENOUGH is ENOUGH! The reason we have no subs and teachers leaving is because all around education disrespects the people in these positions.

DP. You are so right. This is NOT acceptable. Teachers, IAs, subs - they all deserve so much more respect.

So what’s the solution RIGHT NOW. I know everyone needs to get paid more. What happens if a sub refuses to cover and goes home is classes get shifted and split and those kids don’t get what they need even if they’re in the same grade. Or a kid with IEP doesn’t get what they need because the special ed teacher is covering. Or the playground is not as well staffed because a para\IA is covering. What’s the next step?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a sub who is really sick of accepting a job, only to arrive at the school and be told I'll be doing something else. This has happened to me four times in the last month. Most recently, I signed up to sub for a 3rd grade teacher. Upon arrival, I was told they didn't need me anymore, but would I please monitor the cafeteria for two hours and then report back to the office for further instructions? I was furious, but tried to remain outwardly flexible and friendly, so I did as I was asked. After two miserable hours in the cafeteria, getting to clean up messes and scrub tables while surrounded by ear-splitting decibels, I returned to the office. I was then asked to cover for a couple of different teachers, which had me running back and forth to their classes until dismissal when I was told to help with bus duty.

Schools: when subs accept a job, make sure that you call them to cancel if they're no longer needed. This is not acceptable.

I'm sorry you feel this way, but this is my life as a non-classroom teacher. I go into work each day holding my breath to see if I will have a normal day, where I can do my actual job, or if I will be pulled for other duties. I am often doing cafeteria/recess duty/bus duty, covering a classroom, covering as a one-to-one para for a special needs child, or even sitting with a child who cannot be in their classroom after a significant behavior issue. This is the reality of public education today, with teacher and sub shortages. You are allowed to say no and ask how else you could help, or just leave. We have had subs do this in the past, and then we have subs who understand our struggles and pitch in however they are asked.

But it's not ok and we all need to start saying that.

Public education-gaslighting at it's best-"do it for the kids" "be a team player" "do whatever is needed" ENOUGH is ENOUGH! The reason we have no subs and teachers leaving is because all around education disrespects the people in these positions.

DP. You are so right. This is NOT acceptable. Teachers, IAs, subs - they all deserve so much more respect.

So what’s the solution RIGHT NOW. I know everyone needs to get paid more. What happens if a sub refuses to cover and goes home is classes get shifted and split and those kids don’t get what they need even if they’re in the same grade. Or a kid with IEP doesn’t get what they need because the special ed teacher is covering. Or the playground is not as well staffed because a para\IA is covering. What’s the next step?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
They pay you, right? If they sent you home, would they still pay you? For having showed up in the morning, paid for childcare and cleared your day?

I scrubbed tables, swept, cleaned up, wipes noses, when I volunteered for the PTA (when you organize entire events, sometimes you have to do that). I have two graduate degrees. No work is demeaning.

I think part of the work of a sub is to be placed where the need is, but maybe I'm not fully understanding the situation.

This is my take as well. I am a part time school employee and sometimes we have to be super flexible. I love kids, I am there to make their day a little better (that’s how I see my job in general as it is meaningless in itself - testing), so I don’t really care what I do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a sub who is really sick of accepting a job, only to arrive at the school and be told I'll be doing something else. This has happened to me four times in the last month. Most recently, I signed up to sub for a 3rd grade teacher. Upon arrival, I was told they didn't need me anymore, but would I please monitor the cafeteria for two hours and then report back to the office for further instructions? I was furious, but tried to remain outwardly flexible and friendly, so I did as I was asked. After two miserable hours in the cafeteria, getting to clean up messes and scrub tables while surrounded by ear-splitting decibels, I returned to the office. I was then asked to cover for a couple of different teachers, which had me running back and forth to their classes until dismissal when I was told to help with bus duty.

Schools: when subs accept a job, make sure that you call them to cancel if they're no longer needed. This is not acceptable.

I'm sorry you feel this way, but this is my life as a non-classroom teacher. I go into work each day holding my breath to see if I will have a normal day, where I can do my actual job, or if I will be pulled for other duties. I am often doing cafeteria/recess duty/bus duty, covering a classroom, covering as a one-to-one para for a special needs child, or even sitting with a child who cannot be in their classroom after a significant behavior issue. This is the reality of public education today, with teacher and sub shortages. You are allowed to say no and ask how else you could help, or just leave. We have had subs do this in the past, and then we have subs who understand our struggles and pitch in however they are asked.

But it's not ok and we all need to start saying that.

Public education-gaslighting at it's best-"do it for the kids" "be a team player" "do whatever is needed" ENOUGH is ENOUGH! The reason we have no subs and teachers leaving is because all around education disrespects the people in these positions.

What’s the alternative? We all say no and the kids have to go home?

Let all of the admin take turns. That's why they get paid the big bucks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a sub who is really sick of accepting a job, only to arrive at the school and be told I'll be doing something else. This has happened to me four times in the last month. Most recently, I signed up to sub for a 3rd grade teacher. Upon arrival, I was told they didn't need me anymore, but would I please monitor the cafeteria for two hours and then report back to the office for further instructions? I was furious, but tried to remain outwardly flexible and friendly, so I did as I was asked. After two miserable hours in the cafeteria, getting to clean up messes and scrub tables while surrounded by ear-splitting decibels, I returned to the office. I was then asked to cover for a couple of different teachers, which had me running back and forth to their classes until dismissal when I was told to help with bus duty.

Schools: when subs accept a job, make sure that you call them to cancel if they're no longer needed. This is not acceptable.

I'm sorry you feel this way, but this is my life as a non-classroom teacher. I go into work each day holding my breath to see if I will have a normal day, where I can do my actual job, or if I will be pulled for other duties. I am often doing cafeteria/recess duty/bus duty, covering a classroom, covering as a one-to-one para for a special needs child, or even sitting with a child who cannot be in their classroom after a significant behavior issue. This is the reality of public education today, with teacher and sub shortages. You are allowed to say no and ask how else you could help, or just leave. We have had subs do this in the past, and then we have subs who understand our struggles and pitch in however they are asked.

But it's not ok and we all need to start saying that.

Public education-gaslighting at it's best-"do it for the kids" "be a team player" "do whatever is needed" ENOUGH is ENOUGH! The reason we have no subs and teachers leaving is because all around education disrespects the people in these positions.

What’s the alternative? We all say no and the kids have to go home?