I Was Hoping and Praying

I was hoping I would be able to start writing in this here blog about my adventures in teaching.  While subbing is exciting, I never seem to remember anything interesting or funny to post about.  But since I was starting a long-term assignment, I thought it might be a bit more relevant or at least in-my-face.

I don’t know if that’s going to happen, though. I don’t know how long I’m going to be at the school for.

I went in on Thursday because although the principal told me she’d see me on Monday, I knew that I had no idea what to expect. I wouldn’t have lesson plans prepared for me, instead I’d come in with nothing. They are opening a new classroom, so although the kids have been in school for a month or so, they are going to be disoriented and confused as to why they are being moved to a different room away from their teacher and friends.

The worst part, though, is not knowing how long I’m going to be there for. While at first I was thinking a week or two, now I’m thinking more like a few days. Hopefully they’ll be able to give me some sort of idea today, but it feels unlikely.

No matter what, though, I have to prepare the classroom for these 20 or so kids that will be joining me on Monday. I’m not getting paid for my work, and I don’t mind (especially since my friend is helping out) but there have to be limits on how much work I’m going to put into the room, as far as preparing it, goes. Of course I will do my very best in teaching and guiding the students, but I’m not going to go out and buy things or go beyond my limits to prepare a room which will be occupied by another teacher shortly.

I’m a bit confused at this point about who they are thinking of offering the job to. They mentioned RIF (reduction in force) teachers, but from my understanding they have no more rights than I do to be hired. The only teachers that must be hired are the displaced teachers who are still under contract but don’t have classrooms of their own. It makes me wonder about what is going on downtown and if I should call the union or the district and find out what the rules are about it. It’s not just this school, either. It’s something I’ve seen at another school (in which they put RIF ahead of regular subs) but that from what I (and regular subs I’ve talked to) think is against the agreement reached with the union.

Regardless, today I’m heading over to the school and I’m going to do my best in setting it up and preparing it for Monday. I am not, however, going to spend all my afternoon hours there or put as much effort into it like I would if I were the one who was going to be there for the rest of the school year.