Substitute Teaching

I'm substituting for Sunshine at ...and the pursuit of happiness today. She's been off on Easter travels, but before she left, she sent out a call for guest bloggers to weigh in on the recent Iowa Supreme Court decision regarding who is allowed to marry whom. Since I've gone on a bit about that topic here before, I thought I'd take another swing at it over at her place. Please stop by over there and visit!

Meanwhile, I wanted to share a couple of pieces I've encountered recently about a job I have never wanted to do (because I would suck at it), but which I greatly respect - and which is under a lot of pressure these days. The unending demands on teachers to "do more with less" are falling on fewer teachers who are getting paid less to do it, and in my opinion, this is a genuine threat to our future. What our kids aren't learning - because they're not getting the opportunity, in many cases - definitely can hurt them.

But as for me, I couldn't be a teacher. (Does the title of this post make sense now?)

One teacher said this in relation to budget cuts in her state:

However, all the salary reduction talk has provided for some interesting emails in my inbox. The other day I received this from a fellow teacher...

After being interviewed by the school district administration, the prospective teacher said:

"Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning...

You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride...

You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job. You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams. You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps??

You want me to do all this and then you tell me...I have to take a pay cut??"

That puts it in perspective, doesn't it? And on top of all that, they have to be role models too:

...The writer went on to give examples of cases balancing the public's right to know with workplace safety and privacy laws. Then it went on:

"Most importantly, teachers must understand that they are held to a higher moral standard than most other workers and should not engage in public speech which might jeopardize their status as role models. Teachers are held to a higher standard as role models. If you behave inappropriately away from school in a way that can affect your role model status at school, you may be subject to potential disciplinary review."

...We teachers know we're role models, and we know our conduct is important. But could actions out of school really affect our jobs now, in the twenty-first century?

I'm not talking about criminal actions. To keep our children safe, certain people should not work in schools. I'm talking about human nature, balancing role model status with personal life.

And yet, the tangible rewards for meeting - let alone exceeding - these expectations are often lacking. I received this in an e-mail from my aunt, who retired from the New York City public schools after thirty years of teaching, and who continues to make appearances in the classroom as a substitute in her suburban district.

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest:

"You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest.. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness, replied, "You want to know what I make?" She paused for a second, then began...

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an iPod, Xbox, or movie rental. You want to know what I make?"

She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.

''I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

"I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

"I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.

"Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."

Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make, Mr. CEO?"

For making that difference...thank you, teachers!

***For parents and others who teach reading: Have you checked out my review and giveaway for What to Read When? Entries are open until Wednesday, April 22!***