The Friday Teacher
You’ve heard of “The Starter Wife?” Well, I am “The Friday Teacher.”
For the second consecutive Friday, I was asked to sub during the last block of the day for a colleague - the one for whom I have given up my classroom for one block. Apparently, her toddler has been ill, and, is still ill. As fate would have it, my colleague is also ill.
Anyway, my HOD approached me this morning. The conversation went as follows:
HOD: “You are available last block. Would you sub for Sick Colleague?” (Remember: Though I teach four sections, I only have two preps.).
Me: “Sure.”
HOD: “I know it’s two weeks in a row.”
Me: “Well, people did it for me when I was sick last winter.”
HOD: “Thank you, very much.”
I had work that I needed/wanted to do: Correct papers, get the after-school study hall rosters organized, submit the weekly progress reports on my Learning Support students. But, I really did not feel I could say no. So, I graciously assumed my role as “The Friday Teacher.” Needless to say, the students did not quite know what to say when they saw me for the second consecutive Friday in a row. Moreover, it wasn’t one of those sub. duties where I could kick back and do my thing: The students had been assigned a fairly complicated task, and, they needed my help. Since it is a Spanish class, I was happy to help and to be involved.
I think that being a mom and teaching full time is kicking my colleague in the butt. I don’t say this pejoratively or condescendingly; I sincerely believe that my colleague is overwhelmed, and is not accustomed to working full-time. In fact, I don’t believe she has ever worked at the school in a full-time capacity. Furthermore, she took a full year of maternity leave during the 2006-2007 school year. So, working full time is a major life change for her. And, if the past two weeks are harbingers of things to come, it is going to be a very long year for all concerned.
Why was I asked to sub? It is the philosophy of my place of employ that subs come from within; in other words, teachers with open blocks/planning periods and who are willing to sit in for colleagues. The truth is, not many are willing to give up their planning blocks. In addition to the planning time lost, I gather that the pay is not much of a motivator:$30/block. For me, it’s extra money for the holidays and birthdays, and for other “extras.”
Does anyone need a sub?
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If I was your principal (and I’ve never been one, so this could be a flight of fancy), I’d be treasuring your attitude and conserving your sub time for E-mergencies. Unfortunately, run-of-the-mill supervisors tend to over-utilize their best resources, so when you feel too much pressure and it just isn’t worth it, you might want to have rehearsed one of the greatest stress relieving phrases in any language: “No, thank you.”
Meanwhile, your attitude is verrry commendable!
I can’t help adding a note of my own about being accommodating…Somehow, at my middle school, I developed a reputation for being able to deal successfully with difficult kids, both boys and girls (eighth graders), and needless to say, I wound up with a hugely disproportionate number of kids with inch-thick disciplinary files.
I might never have noticed, except that a counselor, who was trying to be laudatory, mentioned this scheduling anomaly. I just kept the old “service first” attitude, and motored on, wondering if life could have been easier, or did it even matter in the long run.
repairman - September 14, 2007 at 9:57 pm
If you said no, would there have been a problem? I just worry about you getting taken for granted.
jd2718 - September 15, 2007 at 11:46 am
Repairman: You are spot on; I need to rehearse and use, “No, thank you” more often than I do.
jd: I don’t believe so. Between giving up my room to help this same colleague, in addition to the subbing, I have over-indulged, and thr HOD knows it. I thank you for your concern, nevertheless. I am more like my mother than I am willing to acknowledge; she allows herself to be taken for granted, and then burns out.
missprofe - September 15, 2007 at 5:11 pm
You are lucky you get paid to sub during your planning. In my district that doesn’t happen b/c we have a whole substitute system. When a sub doesn’t show or a teacher doesn’t request one we must sub for other teachers. All we get is pat on the back and thank you from our AP. And the more you don’t fight it or complain about it, the more she uses you for subbing. Even though I get irritated from time to time about it, I don’t complain b/c I’ve committed some infractions in which they were forgiving about. So I just do what they ask, but after tenure, I don’t suppose this will be true anymore.
Miss A - September 15, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I always find that the ones who work hardest end up getting those subs; it’s almost as if not being a “complainer” is a crime of sorts. I like subbing sometimes because it tells me how well I can adapt, but on the same end, when it’s the same teacher subbing the same class, it becomes suspect, you know? But you’re so cool.
Jose - September 16, 2007 at 9:58 pm
you are a good person! no doubt!
BK Teaching Fellow - September 17, 2007 at 12:44 am
it really does seem like the semester is off to a rough start and partially because the HOD seems to be putting undue burden on you. Draw boundaries where you can not just because it will help others respect your time and energy but ultimately it will help you to do the same. You have a right to do the work you need to get done, that is why they pay you.
profbwoman - September 17, 2007 at 4:23 am