Sub Vision: Substitutes and Contract Pool Teachers

A teacher that I know had reached a breaking point and decided to resign her full time position. I had met her when she was still at another location, a middle school. Now I see her often at a high school where I frequently work, and watch her repeatedly being upset, sometimes crying, and hear distressed conversations’ bits with other teachers. Not ready to retire yet, she has decided to become a contract pool teacher; staying at the same school but serving as a substitute teacher.

I am not sure this is necessarily the road to happiness, but I know it is the road to a peace of mind. For a substitute teacher, a miserable day ends at 3:00-3:30. For a full time teacher a miserable day may last a whole semester, even a whole year, with short breaks in between. At the end of a school day, teachers carry their head and heart aches home, into the evenings and sleepless nights. Days off are used to reset strategies and plan new ones that maybe, just maybe, will be more effective…

The advantage (or disadvantage) of a pool teacher, over a daily substitute teacher, is that they are usually based at one school. For the above-mentioned teacher it might be a drawback, facing many of the same problem students, and possibly the same unsupportive administration. No doubt, there is a benefit in knowing where you are stationed, and thus avoiding early morning phone calls, that may requests your service at a remote, or undesirable, location. Yet, not committed to a specific location, means that a troubling day at a certain school ends at the end of that day.

There was a time when the district offered a permanent substitute positions at certain schools, usually under-performing ones. I was offered that kind of job in the past, and weighed the pros and cons. One setback was the fact that I did not know ahead of time where I would be assigned. The one school I knew had an opening, and I could have pulled some contacts, was a school where I had several long-term assignments, but my experience there made it an unappealing prospect. The other schools, I suspected, could be even worse and further away, so I declined the offer.

If there is an ideal type of work that I could do as a teacher, I have not found it yet, but substitute teaching, or contract pool teaching, is the closest so far…

Sub Vision: Special Education Made Right

At the beginning of my education career, I was lucky to land a job at a good school, close to my home. I started there as an observer, part of my teaching credentials program, stayed as a bi-lingual volunteer aide, then (minimally) paid aide. A year later, after passing the proficiency test, I was offered a math teaching position at the special education department. This was my first year teaching and I had a lot to learn about teaching math, special education and school organization in general. My aide was a great help with teaching, and fellow teachers with IEPs.

As my goal was to teach math in the general education, I left at the end of the year. The next ten years took me to charter and private institutes, adult education, and a variety of public schools. These experiences led me to the conclusion that a full time teaching job was just impossible, and thus I became a substitute teacher. I did hold several semester-long assignments, but was always careful not to commit to a contract employment. At times, regretting leaving special ed, I considered going back to school to add a credential, but when I learned of what it entails I gave it up.

During those ten years I learned that my special education students were not different from most other students, academically or behavior wise. With time, and repeated disappointments, I lowered my expectations and rigor of teaching, and became complicit to the lack of students’ progress. Long-term assignments kept me for a while at certain locations. Usually, however, I wandered between different schools, and being lower on the seniority ladder, was called to the lower-end ones.

Despite the realization that students in the special ed are very similar to those in the general ed, I was stunned to discover that most schools do not take the special education seriously. Unlike the earnestness with which we took our job at my first school, most special ed programs lacked integrity and real goal. When assigned to a special ed class, I was given no specific directions, students had no definite guidelines or work, and when asked about their daily routines, typical reply would be ‘none’. I would not believe it had there been anything to point to the contrary...

Ten years later, I returned to my first school as a substitute. I was delighted to see people I have not seen in years, most still there, teaching same subjects, and in the same classrooms. With renewed acquaintances and relationships, I received invitations to substitute, especially from my special education teachers, friends.

I then re-discover something amazing… special education teachers that do actually teach! During two weeks I spent at one classroom we read a book, discussed it and had a project. At another one-week assignment the teacher left specific instructions and orderly class work, with one high-quality movie to watch, following a guide-line and a worksheet. At my friend Maria’s class I enjoyed a very well-organized plan for both English and math, and I realized that her class’s math level is higher than many general ed’s. Similarly impressed I was with another math class where advanced work was completed and submitted. Even the last day of school was not idle; The Health teacher left several tasks, and – a qualified, difficult, final exam…

There is also a lot to say about the wonderful and dedicated assistants, many of whom had been there for years. They work closely with the teachers and are an integral part of the learning process. They don’t sit in the corner and exchange text messages. They are active, knowledgeable, authoritarian yet accommodating.

I wish I had known back then, what I know now, and not wasted ten years looking for the ideal job. This place is as close to ideal as I could find, with dedicated, great teachers, colleagues, friends, and with students whose life I could have affected...

Sub Vision: Charter Schools, Chapter II

The public education, schools and districts, are suffering defeat at the political arena. A U.S. Secretary of Education who had never been to a public school… A Board of Education elected official backed by big money supporters who have never been in the education profession… Is this the trend these days? Persons with no qualifications running huge systems they know nothing about?

Talking to public school teachers, I always make known my familiarity with charter schools, and my opinion of them... It had been almost two years since I had written about it in my blog, but a teacher had recently asked me about my experience and I was happy to share my knowledge and to refer her to my writing.

When I re-read my blog it reminded me of the weird school sites, the unprofessional staff members, the classrooms without desks and without white (or black) board, the school that did not have teachers, the Science school that did not have a science teacher, the ‘Computer’ class that did not have computers…

Talking to new teachers, or teachers looking for a change, I always remind them that at a charter school, teachers are not protected by a union that tells the school what duties, and hours, are acceptable, and which are not. Supervision before, during or after school, is a common practice there, as well as late meetings, and extra unpaid tutoring or enrichment classes.

Here is the truth behind most charter schools… It is not about a better education, it is about a more profitable education. People who run charter schools are not, usually, educators, but business people who know how to use public funds to their benefit. With some savvy tricks they can save money hiring unqualified teachers for a low pay, make them work many extra hours, and if teachers quit, or fired (no binding contracts), others will come; replacement teachers or replacement subjects.

I don’t pretend to know all the details and requirements of starting a charter school; under what kind of scrutiny they are, and for how long. I do know, however, that they have a lot of leeway at the beginning and, conveniently, they don’t have to prove success for many years… so they can change the name, or location, or administration, and start all over again, ruining another generation of trusting students of unsuspecting parents…

Sub Vision: Do you hear me?

At this day and age, it is very hard to get anyone to listen, especially the younger generation. Every time I give instructions in class, I find myself repeating the message five times at least, and sure to have somebody ask that same question several more times, and at the end someone will claim that I never said so…

As a substitute teacher, I have a habit of putting the instructions on the board. At the end of the day, I leave them there in case someone claims I didn’t (my son once told me that when they had a substitute, students would tell her they already did this assignment, and then would tell the teacher the sub never told them to do it).

The phenomena of not listening, however, is not limited to the presence of a substitute teacher. I often, while visiting classrooms, or escorting students to events or a lecture, witness from the side the lack of attention; students are just tuning out.

A recent assignment took me, as an aide, to a higher level algebra class. With the excitement of listening in a high-level class (yes, I do love math) came the realization of how frustrating it is. I watched a good math teacher explaining factoring to a crowded class, and from the back I could see how five students are following and responding, while thirty others are blankly copying, talking to their friends, or trying to hide their on-going cell phone conversations…

Allowing electronic devices in class is one of the biggest mistakes in education; It is an epidemic in every school I visit. I used to fight it fiercely, but lately, as I notice schools relaxing their policies, I do too, allowing the irreversible harm. The good intentioned educators who lobbied for tablets for all students, especially in low income schools, had created movie watching and game playing a standard…

I don’t know if the presence of electronic devices are the only cause of this lack of attention and inability to listen. Is it a problem of attention span caused by this digital era? Is it part of a general eroding in discipline, outcome of deficiency in consequences, or is it a result of a failure to teach and demand attention?

Our students are just tuning off and ignoring instructions! Isn’t it something we should not ignore? Something we should not tune off our attention to?

Sub Vision: Private Schools

It was exactly three years ago when it all happened. At the time, I was so hurt that I could hardly talk about it; I would get teary eyed... For weeks and months I was hoping to get a phone call, email, or any sign from anyone saying sorry and that I am missed… Not even my good friend, whom I helped through tough times, physical and emotional…

The only communication I ever got was from a girl, unaware of the situation, asking me for help with the school’s newspaper. I answered but never heard back from her. And then one time I emailed, by error, one of the mothers, mistaking her for someone else, and received a cold reply saying she has no idea what am I talking about …

With time the pain subsided; I returned to the public schools system, and this small, private, religious school was forgotten.

Then, few weeks ago, exactly three years later, at a special screening of an ethnic movie, I saw one of my darling students. She was one of six girls that were the pride of the school, and my favorite group. And this student was the brightest and the best…

For a while I hesitated, not sure, but then, all of a sudden, without thinking twice, I stepped forward and said something to the fact that this is my favorite ex-student.

Both she, and her mother, did recognized me, told me where she were since (8^th to 11^th), and then told me about the rest, and what high school they go to now.

It was only when I departed and asked them to send my love to the other girls, that my emotions came full strength, and tearing, I could hardly finish my sentence… It took me another hour, well into the movie, to get back to myself and the pain to faint to the past.

It was a small religious school that invited me for an interview about a month after the school year had started. They told me that the previous teacher of several years had unexpectedly left, and the newly hired is not liked by the students, and being replaced.

I should have been alarmed by this information, but teaching a sample lesson to these darling group of girls I thought I found what I always wanted, students who like to learn, supportive parents, helpful administration, and an opportunity to teach the way I want.

For the first few months I was the hero teacher. My students’ parents were all happy. Parents of younger kids expressed hope I will be there when their kids get to my class. Students told me they understood things now that they had never before, administrators were all approving, and other teachers invited me to their homes for family celebration.

Before the holidays I received many gifts, both from parents and from administrators and teachers, and at a school holiday celebration I was highly praised by my students, with wishes and even with a cute poem. Everyone cheered for my celebrity…

Then, only few days later, just before the end of the semester, a parent wanted to talk to me. She met first with the head master of the school, and their meeting lasted for a very long time. At the end of it, she ignored me and the head master wanted to talk to me…

To my surprise, I learned that the principal was not happy with my performance, claimed that students don’t understand me, said I don’t use enough technology, and so on…

I was astounded, and asked her only half seriously if it means that she plans on firing me. Her answer was not re-assuring at all. Later I tried to get more information of what was it all about, and eventually realized it will be better if I just quit.

I, somehow, managed to teach to the end of the school day, and following an email exchange later in the day it was clear that I should not come back. I still had to fight for my last paycheck, but when it was over I was just left to wonder what had happened.

It took me months to put together events and time line, to realize that the great celebration before the holidays was also before the report cards. This mother with whom I had to meet had two kids as my students, cute and smart but spoiled and undisciplined, and although I did not fail any of my students, and even ‘D’ was rare, I didn’t hesitate to award ‘C’s to many students, and her kids too…

This woman, however, was rich and well-connected, and the school needed her money and influence. They couldn’t effort losing her over a math grade, so they got rid of me.

This was not the only case of unhappy parents with their student’s grade, I assume. Many of my students were sons and daughters of influential people in the school and community, a fact that gave them and their children entitlement to special treatment. The school depended on their money and influence and could not effort to lose them …

It is a sad story, but not a rare one. Sad for me as I was attached to the students and was doing a good job. But even more consequential was its reflection on the education system. It is not rare that private schools depend on parents’ satisfactions, translates to money… So to keep students and parents happy they get (buy) good grades. And with no a standard, mandatory measure of objective achievement, no one will ever know…

This personal story happened to be timely… With a new education ministry, potentially headed by a person who is a product of the private teaching system, with no public education experience, it is just the beginning of unqualified, money driven, schooling… 

Sub Vision: Calculation and Education

It was quite embarrassing… I was part of a group arranging a large tea party. The kitchen was crowded with many good willed individuals trying to help. Two of us were assigned to the tea preparation that included separating small thin bags, opening them up, pouring in a quarter cup of tea leaves, and sealing them with a curling iron…

Then came the real challenge… this time a mathematical one:

There are 105 cups in the water container. The right amount of tea per one gallon is half a cup of tea leaves. How many (1/4 cup) bags should we put in the water container?

I am sure it had to do with all the pressure around, the people, the time limit, the noise, getting ready for the big event, yet I don’t understand why I just could not figure out the right number of tea bags needed… The people around me were ready to accept any answer I came up with, and I got an OK for anything from 4 to 27 bags per container…

It took me a while but at last I came up with the right answer, confirmed by recalculation on the next day, at home. But back then I still doubted my calculation and was afraid the tea was too strong for all the older people participating, so I took out the bags as soon as the color seemed dark enough, and kept adding hot water to the containers…

Later on I learned that miscalculation was not the only problem with the tea; the water was not hot, tea distribution was not even, with no supply to some tables… but I was just thankful that no heart problems were reported… still I was bothered by my inability to solve this simple math problem, being a reasonably mathematically inclined person…

Interestingly enough, what grounded me at last was an old method that I have never learned at school, nor had I ever seen it being taught… I found it out by listening to a neighbor, (not an educated person), explaining it to another neighbor... He called it the ‘Triangle Value’, similar to proportion, but written differently, in a simpler way:

The top line (in my case) is:         1 gallon (water)  –  ½ a cup (tea leaves)

The second line is:                       6.5 gallons        -    X  cups

To find the X: multiply the value above the X by the value next to it, and divide it by the value diagonal to the X…

So… after so many years of education, and in education, what really helped me solve a real life math problem was a method I overheard from a neighbor… isn’t it interesting?

Yet, this is not the only time I resorted to methods and terms I did not learn at school. The basics for algebra and geometry I learned from my cousin. Understanding fractions, setting up equations and understanding their meaning, I learned from my grandfather… From my parents I learned values, logic, history, geography, politics, and much more…

Maybe we don’t need schools, after all, only good, informed, adults around us…

Sub Vision: Election and Education

The result of the last election is yet to be absorbed by many of us… It is not about Democrats vs. Republicans this time… Yes, there are ideology differences, and yes there is a threat of repealing the president’s executive orders that protect the vulnerable, there is the affordable care (that I strongly support), gun control, and of course the nomination of the Supreme Court justices (shamefully handled by the other side of the isle),  but again… this is not it!

My frustration, indignation, horror, panic, are about the person we elected as a president… A person who offended every sector of our sacred diverse society; insulting religious affiliation, dismissing heroes, implying racism, mocking the disabled, disrespecting women, alienating the LGBT community… all while hiding countless scandals, cheating, dis-loyalties, immoralities, and robbing people who work for him…

This is the person whom we elected to replace the classiest, smartest, most honest person ever sat in the oval office, and his classiest, smartest first lady, with their lovely daughters. Darkness that replaces enlightenment, regression replaces progression, dirt to replace purity, ugliness to replace beauty...

How did it happen will take many more pages of rationalization, many hours of explanations, and many sleepless nights of regret and pondering on what could or should have been done differently…

Here is my token… Americans take their democracy for granted.  They rarely flood the streets to protest injustice. They are removed from commitment to democracy; voting is an option, not an obligation!

I was dismayed to discover that election night was the very night selected by organization to which I belong, to have a membership drive. I was even more amazed to find out that no one opposed that idea, and I, the foreign born citizen, was the only person who chose not to participate and to stay home, to watch (with horror) the election. Furthermore, that night happened to be very successful, all members showed up, even those who were absent for months, and new members turned in record numbers…

In my native country Election Day is a holiday. Workplaces are closed, schools are closed, public transportation is free, and thus everyone is part of the democratic process… yes, people do take advantage of the system, but they do vote too, and a long line to the booth does not scare them. Here, it is hard for working citizens to participate in the election, and for those who have not planned ahead of time to use an absentee ballot, there is a good chance that they will let others decide for them…

And it all goes back to education… Over the past year I visited many schools, majority of them are high schools. To my surprise, students showed very little interest, some even told me that they are not allowed to discuss politics. They were usually curious of my vote, but once they were satisfied that I am on their side (many are immigrants) they lost interest. The only time I heard a heated discussion about the candidates was by three students, all from my homeland, and although we were on different sides they showed the passion and conviction I would expect from all teen-agers... Even the days after the election didn’t bring much attention, and although some expressed a mild surprise, no one really cared!

What do we teach in school? Do we teach mere testable subjects? Do we ever put any emphasis on educating the young generation? Do we still stress ‘Character counts’? Do we talk about values? Do we teach citizenship? Yes, at one point they all have to take a subject called ‘Government’, but is this all the citizenship education that they get? Is this the only vehicle to teach right from wrong?

As a teacher, and educator, I like to observe social connections, especially integration. I love watching friendships between young adults that cross race, color, religion or culture. This is our future…

Few days before the election I was warm-hearten to see two students, of the same age and height, the white student standing in front of the colored one, folding his sleeves up… I thought – this is so cute! The real meaning of integration… Later I learned that they share the same first name, and that they are best friends… made my day…

This is, however, what I heard a week after the election, in a middle school. As I turned my head I heard the word ‘Niger’, something about a ‘Jew’, and…  ‘Heil Hitler’… As far as I know, none of the above words were directed to a specific person; they were part of a word game played by few immature students, yet, I have never heard those words said in public, neither at school nor anywhere else. Is the repulsive, regressive, rhetoric already setting in? Are we already witnessing a new permissive rudeness that we worked so hard to repress all these years? Are we going back to a dreadful reality belongs to another life at another time?

There is no escape from the very serious question – is this what we voted for? Is this the person, and his revolting entourage, that we elected to guide us? Is this the person who will give an example to our kids?