Substitute Teachers

We had great respect for our teachers when we went to the Rochdale schools, but that did not extend to substitute teachers.

Substitute teachers, or subs, have generally acquired the same academic level as their faculty peers, and sometimes, they even have more education under their belt than those on their respective school's faculty.

But if this isn't the worst job in America, I don't know what is.

To borrow a line from Rodney Dangerfield,  substitute teachers"get no respect, no respect at all."

The problem is that subs are put into a position in a classroom with a bunch of kids who are used to their regular teacher. With that teacher out of the room, the sub is in a strange class with kids he or she does not know, and that really sets forward a lot of awkward situations.

I remember that one day in I.S. 72, the sub was taking the class roll to make sure everyone was in class.

She went down the list, and she came to Russell Ruvinsky. She called his name and he said he "Here."

The sub looked up and said, "You aren't Russell Ruvinsky, you are Monte Silberger. Where is Russell Ruvinsky?"

Russell once again said that he was Russell Ruvinsky, but the sub would not listen to reason. Others in the class, including myself, went up to the teacher to say that that was, in fact, Russell Ruvinsky, but she could not, and would not, be swayed.

And no, Monte Silberger was not on the class list.

Russell Ruvinsky got written up on the section sheet (remember those?) and yes, he had to deal with it the next or two when they came to check up on the section sheet information.

You simply cannot win being a sub. Some kids listen, some kids don't, and some subs are left without lesson plans and things for the students to do.

It is a thankless job, pays little, and does not often lead to a permanent appointment.

I know, because yes, at one time, many years ago, I was a substitute teacher, and although I never had a situation where I mixed up a Russell Ruvinsky with a Monte Silberger, I did experience some situations which I can laugh at now but were far from funny then.

At the Reunion, I am sure the subject of teachers will come up, and I am sure we all have our own funny stories about a particular teacher or substitute teacher that we can tell everyone at the Reunion.

Be there--Oct 5--and if you are wondering where to send your check, the address is at the top of this Blog.