I graduated from college and now I have a part time job as a substitute teacher. I teach high schoolers. There are things I like and things I hate about being a sub. For instance I hate having to write people up. I want to be the one they like and respect without having to put the fear in to them, I do my best be less boring and to create an atmosphere that says I respect them though I have little control over the lesson plans or the no hats or gum rule. I am still trying to find that balance between being a total pushover and being a total dick I seem to be leaning more towards the pushover category. Maybe its because I've never been an authority figure before. Another thing that bothers me a little bit is that I know at some point I will have to jump into the whole anti-drug propaganda thing. I am a former marijuana legalization activist, and a former user. I don't regret it and I am not sorry for it. But as someone who is supposed to be "the man", an adult rolemodel and rule maker, I can't really talk about it. I dont think the kids are going to respect someone who used to smoke pot, not as an authority figure. But at the same time, the propaganda is bullshit. I've seen the pamplets they give them. Stuff like the study about ecstacy and holes in the brain that was debunked years ago or "facts" about marijauna killing brain cells and the gateway drug myth. Certainly high school kids shouldn't be doing drugs but I know some of them probably are and that hurts my credibility with them too. I know I need practice with this whole teaching thing.
just because your title is teacher, does'nt mean you have to be one. Or at least do the sterotypical thing just because its expected
There was one sub during high school that everyone loved. He sounded just like Tommy Chong and everyone would joke that he was a big burnout. So being the stoner kid I absolutley adored him haha. I dont think you need to jump on the anti drug bullshit, in high school I always appreciated teachers who would tell us more than the one-sided "Just Say NO!" approach. Truth is, high schoolers can handle the concept of personal freedom when it comes to drug use (I am only referring to marijuana and mushrooms here really....I dont advocate addictive shit) and still evaluate both the advantages and consequences and make an informed decision. As long as you arent a hardass students love subs! So have fun!
i agree with kyle. i wanna be a teacher when i get older. and i want to be a cool teacher, but i don't wanna have to write people up and shit. i want them to like me, but i don't want to be a pushover. but i'm also afraid of coming across those kids that are disrespectful and impossible to be cool with.
As a former sub and former social worker, I am pretty certain that you can be yourself without saying too much. If that makes any sense at all. There are some things, like drug use, that you, as an authority figure, just should not discuss at school. It could cost you your job and any future jobs in that field. That said, if you are open-minded and kind to kids, most of them will respect you for it. I have worked with teens in several different capacities and I really enjoyed it. Now I work with younger kids (up to 7th grade) and I supervise teen volunteers, but it's not the same as being a teacher. You just have to be so careful in an education setting. That's why I don't do it anymore. I found a job where I could do what I love, but I don't have to worry about standardized test scores or educational malpractice. I'm not trying to be a downer, but the education folks are a tough crowd.
In high school, a number of my teachers were quite open about smoking up (though they didn't do it at school, of course), but I'm assuming that would be a lot more dangerous in the US. Can you still get life for possession or something down there? Haha! The US! Most of you don't even get snow for Christmas! That's ridiculous! Sorry, I'm done.
I know a woman who is the cool teacher at her high school. She DOES enforce rules, but what happens is these out of control kids RESPECT that she has boundaries. It's a "cool but you WILL get your homework in" situation. At 22, it must be tough subbing at high school, esp if you resist the idea of serving as a boundary fence. IS high school the age you want to find your permanent teaching home? and why do you think you will HAVE to be involved in the anti-drug message? Is it a district thing? depending on the course (once you are out of substitute land) you have options. Do you expect to be with the "last chance" kids and need to suggest they NOT wake and bake? Can you be the instructor who allows the well done (emphasis on well done) research paper that details the rise of the anti innebriation movements in the US and world? (or a compare contrast with use and abuse patterns in lenient states?)
there is a fine line in getting respect and hard-ass discipline... tough job, but I am looking towards teaching one day. As for the drug thing, I think honesty is the best policy. Every teacher that I can remember(and that I actually learned from) was honest and open to us, and treated us like adults, and not hooligans. Lemongait....no more life in prision for pot....that was the 60s and 70s... P.S....I live in a sub-tropical climate, and no, i dont like snow too much...when we get nice and tan, you MIGHT be thawing out!!! (just hadta throw that back at ya!! much love to you!)
Haha, well, I like snow, so there! I might just move to the north pole, where there's always snow, and there aren't any hard-ass teachers... I'm such a Canadian hippy, blah!
One of the best teachers at my high school was Mr. Thompson...he was a head , and he would bring his 12 string in every friday and sit on his desk and play for us the last 15 minutes of class....he was so cool...and the kids all turned to him when they needed to talk. I still think about him.
I've smoked with one teacher while I was in high school, talked about it (in a positive light) with another. There are ways one can express their opinions without actualy coming out and saying so. But niether one would really be open about it unless it was with a student who was "in the know," if you know what I mean. So just becareful what you say around certain students who really can't handle the truth, and the immature loud mouths and I'd say you'll be fine Peace
god save u if u wanna b cool, kids r friggin vicious...i think if u speak from ure heart, and dont appear to be a tool, kids will respect u, some, certain kids r just in it for the fun of fucking with someone, others do it cus they want a real person standing at the front of the room, not some robot...u really have a chance to inspire these kids, im sure thats why u got into it in the first place, dont ever forget that ure in a wonderful position to make a differance...
