Sub'n: Views from several angles on substitute teaching

Throughout my adult life, I have substitute taught in various schools in many different cities where we lived. After a 12-year hiatus, I "subbed" in five high school classes today. Here are some thoughts I had:

"Substitute teacher!" Upon hearing this announcement, a student may experience an extreme quickening of heartbeats, euphoric waves of gratitude, and explosive jolts of creativity. The mind of this student, a.k.a. sub-CAT, whirls with anticipation. "How can I take advantage of this substitute teacher's disorientation, the deference and timidity that accompany her still-dry feet?"  Careful to remain unemotional, expressionless, and uninterested, sub-CAT contemplates where and when to pounce. He lies-in-wait for the opportune moment to catch this unsuspecting, surrogate leader.

"Substitute teacher!" A title revered by… no one. The school administrators dread the thought of the extra work involved with a sub: more paperwork, more interruptions, more complaints, more discipline problems but, also, less work-- less work toward achieving yearly goals and optimum student test results.

"Substitute teacher!" The "absent" teacher dislikes subs, though understands they are a necessity. A substitute teacher mean extra work typing instructions and explaining lesson plans. A sub means there will be even more-than-the-usual-work to do when the absent teacher returns to school, including catching up, cleaning up, shoring up. Anxiety comes hand-in-hand with calling a sub since that call often occurs from a sickbed, on the way to daycare to fetch an ailing child, or in the fog of emotions concerning a family emergency.

"Substitute teacher!" A phrase uttered over the phone, at the crack of dawn, while the would-be sub is still warm under bedcovers. Her response is a half-truth. "Sure, I'll be glad to come in for you today," when, in reality, she is thinking, "I might as well, I have no other job and I need the money." After hanging up the phone, her sleepy brain comes into focus and she tries to recall the "who, what, when, where, and why?" of her assignment.  She tumbles out of bed, stumbles to the coffeepot, and pauses to humbly beseech help from the One Who knows her best. "Dear God, thank-you for this day. Please give me strength… and patience… and wisdom to outsmart sub-CAT!"