Re: Should I Just Quit?

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I've been a sub for almost 20 years. I've also taught full time.
Classroom management is very different. When I taught full
time, the students knew that they would have to face me every
day. It's a different relationship with the students.

As a sub, one has to walk in, establish some sort of authority
within the first couple of minutes, and start working. By telling
the students that you were a teacher and knew all the tricks,
you were throwing down a gauntlet, a challenge. You were also
telling them that you didn't trust them or like them.
Apparently they won.

I went to school in the 60s and 70s. Back then, students did not
behave for subs. My Mom told me the same thing went on when she
was in school in the 40s and 50s. This is nothing new.

When subbing, one needs to start out tough but fair, consistent,
and pleasant. That is what the students will respect. I subbed
in an inner city high school and had very few problems. When
the kids would ask me if I was a nice sub (in that district it
meant "can we have a free for all?") or a mean sub, I would tell
them it was entirely up to them. If they behaved, did their
work and were respectful, we would have a good day. If they
were rude and didn't do their work, I could be the sub from you
know where. Usually they behaved. If I was challenged, the
student got a warning and was then sent to the office. They
knew that I meant business and behaved. I wasn't nasty, that
was just the way it was and it worked for me. I rarely sent
anyone to the office and the students did their work.

I'm staying in my home district now, no commute. I sub mostly
for middle school and do not have management problems.

Le

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