Substitute teacher
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A substitute teacher (known as a supply teacher in Britain and Canada [In BC substitute teachers are called Teachers on Call or TOCs], and a relief teacher in Australia and New Zealand) is a person who teaches a class when the regular teacher is unavailable due to illness or other obligation. This is considered an entry level job in teaching, and is poorly paid. The national average in the United States is $65 per day[1] although school districts that have a higher demand for substitutes will pay significantly more. Some substitute teachers prefer the term "guest teacher".
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[edit] General qualifications
The qualifications for substitute teaching are usually not as strict as a regular teacher. Some areas require a college degree and the successful completion of competency tests; others require only that the applicant possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. A substitute teacher may not have any training in the subject to be taught and may simply be present so that students can maintain the routine of going to their regularly scheduled class, even if no new material is covered. At lower grade levels, however, any person qualified to teach should be able to smoothly transition into the materials in the lesson plan for the day.
[edit] Reasons people may become a substitute teacher
There are many reasons individuals become substitutes. It is usually not considered a long term career but some have been in the occupation for many years. Those who substitute are usually retired teachers who still want something to do, those training to be a regular teacher and in the process of earning their certification in order to gain classroom experience and those who have earned a credential but have not been hired as a regular teacher due to limited openings for their particular subject matter.
[edit] Classroom management issues
Substitutes often find it difficult to acclimate to the new environment, often moving from one school to another week after week or day after day. They are often viewed badly by the students they are looking after with a "you're not a real teacher" joke attitude making behaviour management very difficult. In long term replacements, however, this often quickly subsides.
In some school districts, certain employees do nothing but substitute teach, remaining on call to fill in for any absent teacher of any subject. This practice is particularly prevalent in large school districts, where some percentage of teachers are consistently likely to be unable to teach on any given day. This practice of "missing a day of work" can be seen as a two-fold situation; First, it creates a void in the educational process of the child because he/she does not have his/her regular teacher to learn from and second, it provides employment for those that need a non-committed job. In smaller districts, a regular teacher might substitute for a class that does not conflict with their regular teaching schedule.
Urban legend holds that substitute teachers are frequently the target of practical jokes by the students. In some instances, students will misrepresent the pace, coverage, or usual activities of the class, suggesting that the regular teacher allows them to get away with behavior not normally accepted in school. Another involves switching names with another person during the attendance and usually also for the rest of the class.
[edit] Substitute Educator's Day
The United States observes a Substitute Educator's Day, which was instituted by the National Education Association (NEA). The purpose of this day is to highlight the role and importance of the substitute teacher by providing information about, advocating for, and helping to increase appreciation and respect for this unique professional. This day also focuses on the needs of substitutes, which include better wages and health benefits and continual professional development. Substitute Educator's Day is observed on the Friday during American Education Week. Other countries and jurisdictions have similar observances.
[edit] Substitute teachers in fiction
- A series of movies feature a mercenary posing as a substitute teacher in order to take on criminal elements within the school. The first, The Substitute, starred Tom Berenger. The remaining three starred Treat Williams, and were The Substitute 2: School's Out, The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All, and The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option.
- A sequel to Class of 1999, which featured teachers in gang-run schools being replaced by deadly robots, was titled Class of 1999 II: The Substitute.
- A scene in Catch Me If You Can portrays famed con man Frank Abagnale convincing a class that, rather than being a new student, he is in fact their substitute teacher.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed an undercover police officer who disguised himself as a long-term substitute teacher in the movie Kindergarten Cop.
- Harry Allard and James Marshall wrote a series of children's picture books about Miss Nelson and her alter ego, a strict substitute teacher named Miss Viola Swamp.
Famous Supply teachers Mr Bache Mr Hughes
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- "Tricks of the Trade": website that discusses the experiences of a substitute teacher, offers advice for people who want to be a substitute and why someone would want to go into the field
