Subs. And I don't mean the sandwiches.

Substitutes come in two flavors. The first is timid and unwilling to take total control, which usually results in the students walking all over you, unless they have been told before by their teacher they will be persecuted if they do. In some cases, these subs actually know something about the subject they are teaching and are attempting to relay information but usually fail since the students have little or no respect for a stranger up in their bi'nis. The second, to which I was privy to yesterday, is a major bitch with a penchant for power. Holy crap, are these subs universally loathed.

I have been moved to a 7th grade social studies class, and there was a sub yesterday. The original teacher was smart and instead of playing a video or something, she had them fill out packets that would serve as their study guides for their major test at the end of the month. The sub informed the class that there was to be NO talking. Understandable. However, 12 year olds are prone to speaking before raising their hands, and several needed a pen or other necessary implement or asked what the abbreviation of Missouri was. I was happy to provide these things because they could not do the work without them. I even let two girls look at the same notebook since one forgot hers as long as they were doing the work by themselves. This woman, though, threw a fit whenever one of them said anything, even whispered, and one child was humming (which I didn't even notice), which apparently drove her even crazier. I was walking around answering questions and handing out packets, etc., trying to be helpful, and she was walking around drunk with power. It was ridiculous.

This woman was back today and handed out different packets. At first she told them to do the work without help but quickly realized the work was especially difficult and both of us were busy the entire class helping them out. Many students professed to me that this was boring and they didn't want to do it. I genuinely apologized because it did suck that they were stuck in this situation. The sub was also constantly interrupting their work to say what the punishment would be if she were pushed to hard and she was about on her wit's end. Of course, nothing happened. The students were not that bad before this remark, but the MOST important thing when disciplining students is consistency. If you say you will do something, DO IT. If the threats are empty the behavior will continue. It seemed as if this woman were on a power trip yet had no idea how to control the class. I realize she is just a sub, but it seems like common sense to do what you say you are going to do.

Yes, the students did their work but it was not at all an appropriate learning environment.