Summer School - Day Nine - The Substitute Teacher... Again

As predicted in my last post, after I took a day off, my students complained that the TOC (Teacher-On-Call) did not teach them anything. "It was so confusing!" and "We didn't get it!" echoed off the walls.

Despite the fact that I know the TOC personally and find her to be a highly competent teacher. Despite the fact that her notes were still on the whiteboard when I came in this morning and they looked exactly like what I would have done. Despite the fact that almost the entire class got 100% on a quiz she gave them at the end of class.

So what happened? Is it just a reflex for students to complain about the TOC? Is it their fault for not paying attention? Is it her fault? Maybe she didn't explain it well. Is it my fault? I never should have taken a day off.

Someone should really do a study on this. Seriously. I have almost no confidence in this system of substitute teaching even though I have great confidence in many substitute teachers. I know when I am absent, someone must take my place. But how we do this needs to change somehow because I don't believe it works.

Occasionally I will find a bright young teacher who seems to connect with my class and it's not a complete disaster. But then that bright young teacher gets hired to their own classroom and I'm left with no one again. There are several retired teachers on the TOC list who are eminently capable. But they are not always available since they would rather be on the back porch sipping wine then teaching a bunch of teenagers.

It seems especially difficult to find quality physics TOCs. I don't think it's fair to my students to have an English teacher attempt to teach them relativity. It's also not fair to the TOC. So, I schedule days off during tests or give the class a study day. The TOC role becomes glorified babysitter. And I think that diminishes the dignity of the job they are meant to do.

And as I transition to a modeling method of teaching, it will only get more difficult. I don't believe there is such a thing as a modeling substitute teacher. The only viable solution I can think of is to have another modeling teacher across the hall who won't mind taking on my classes as well as his own on the days I am sick.

What do you say Blair?

Summer School - Day Eight - The Substitute Teacher

I took a day off from summer school today. So I had to find a substitute or Teacher-On-Call (TOC) as we politically-correct British Columbians like to say. This is never a pleasant experience. But before I start to rant let me say that I know the teacher who TOC'd for me today and she is an excellent teacher and I know she did a great job.

Having said that, the greatest TOC in the world is not me.

I'm not so egotistical to think that I am better than anyone else. But no matter how good you are, substitute teaching is an extremely difficult job. You have to come in with zero preparation to an audience that is predisposed to not listen and take advantage of every opportunity to slack off and get in trouble. It is thankless work and I admire those who do it well.

But I still have to come in and clean up the mess afterwards. No matter how closely the TOC followed my directions (or changed them for the better) I guarantee that students will complain "We don't get it!" and "She taught us nothing!" I have taken to scheduling days off when my classes are writing tests just so there is less to deal with when I get back. I have had some amazing TOCs in the past and yet, somehow, have never had a good feeling when I return.

I can only imagine this getting worse as I transition to a modeling method of teaching. How many quality physics teachers are on the TOC list? How many of them will be trained modelers that can pick up for me and lead the class in inquiry and exploration? If I am gone for several days, how will this affect student learning in my classroom?

Can I ever take a day off again?