To sub, or not to sub

The number one thing I am told after I mention I'm a teacher with no job is, "Well, at least you can sub." And, honestly, I have an issue with that response.

This post is not me hating on substitute teachers. As a teacher, I value subs just as much as I value any of the support staff that work in the building with me - which is a lot.

And I know that subs are always in short supply. Trust me, I know. But I don't think that burden should fall on teachers in the area. Lord knows we have enough burdens as it is. And I know that subbing is a phenomenal way to "get your foot in the door" (another phrase I'm tired of hearing despite its truth) and make yourself known to the school system and its administrators. I just personally don't want to sub.

As you all hopefully know by now, teachers are not in it for the money. More money is definitely needed, and many teachers have to leave the profession due to its lack of a livable income. But that's an argument for a different day. But there has to be some reason that teachers keep showing up to work despite getting paid around thirteen dollars an hour.

Here are my personal non-monetary enjoyments from teaching:

One: I get immense joy from lesson planning. It's a way to be creative that I never really considered. Making content fun, relevant, and understandable is like a puzzle I have to solve. I love being able to scaffold all of these different ideas to layer on top of one another, moving from basic concepts to complex thought, eventually giving way to a profound understanding and sense of ownership in a student's learning. It's a hard thing to pull off, and it doesn't always happen. But I get so much joy out of it when it does work.

Two: I get even more joy from helping students take ownership of their learning. That moment in the year when I finally have that student who always hates school, is bored in class, and never does homework on time actually try on a project or look up information on a subject we're studying on her own, that moment might be my favorite moment of the entire year.

Three: I get the most joy from building relationships with students. Rita Pierson gave my favorite TED talk, Every Kid Needs a Champion, which focused primarily on the importance of building relationships. You really should just watch it - it's only about eight minutes long - but she quotes a conversation in there she had with a fellow teacher where she said, "You know, kids can't learn from people they don't like." And sure, if you want to get technical about it, kids can learn from people they don't like. They can learn from anyone. But it's so much harder for them (and for you as a teacher) if they don't like you, and they'll rarely take ownership of their education in that instance. I've been fortunate to have a few former students tell me what they were going through and what I helped them overcome. I get the most joy out of knowing I made a difference in a child's life.

All that being said, I can't do those things as a sub. The things that make me put up with all of the crazy throughout the day can't happen as a substitute. I don't get to plan - I have to follow someone else's plan and hope I did it justice. I don't get to use my creative skills to make students enjoy what they are learning - I have to hope someone else put in that work. And even if they did, they probably wouldn't trust me to execute it properly. Because let's be real, most sub lessons fall into three categories: watch a movie, take notes from a PowerPoint, or have a work day. And I certainly don't get to build long-lasting, meaningful relationships with students. I'm lucky if I can learn even five of their names in a day. And truthfully, I was more tired at the end of a subbing day than a regular school day. It's still really hard work. And if I'm going to work that hard, personally, I want more out of it emotionally than what I get.

I'm lucky enough to be in a position where I don't need to work if I don't want to. And I'm grateful that I could sub if we did need the extra income. But for right now, I'm just trying to find other ways to still stay in the realm of education while pursuing having a classroom of my own. I started this blog. I want to write for other education blogs, too. And here at home, maybe I'll volunteer to time at track meets, read at a Quiz Bowl tournament, or judge at a science fair. But I won't sub.

I want to applaud you if you do substitute teach. It really is a phenomenal way to become familiar with a school district and help your chances of becoming a full-time teacher there in the future. And substitute teaching is such a necessary job to help schools run properly. If you're currently unemployed and have a clean record - I highly encourage you to sign up to be a substitute! Oftentimes, it just requires a high school diploma and a background check.

But if you're a teacher without a classroom of your own, I want to offer you support, too. You don't have to sub, even if people make you feel like that's your only option. It's not. People don't get to tell you how to live your life or how to use the skills you've earned and acquired. I know most of the time people are just trying to be encouraging and offer support, but I feel you if you're tired of hearing that response. Use your skills how you best see fit. If that involves becoming a substitute, fantastic! If that involves starting a blog, also fantastic! If that means giving up on teaching and finding a different career, really that's okay, too. We're sorry to lose you, but like I said, it's your life! Whatever it may involve, you should get support for that. Unless you go full-blown Breaking Bad and become a criminal. Don't do that.

So what do you think? Do you sub if you don't have a job? If you don't, what have you done instead? If you do, what have you liked about subbing? What do you think teachers could do better to help you sub more effectively? Comment below!

See, this is what I would love to do as a substitute. This is what I do in my own classroom. But ain't no way is a substitute going to get to do this lesson. Personally (selfishly), I would want to do those lessons myself as the classroom teacher! They're the most fun!