VOL. XVI, NO. 11
APRIL 11, 1975
Equal Time
By LORRIE SWANSON
Did you ever wonder about the person behind the stranger who took over one of your regular classes? If you have, then perhaps it's not too late to probe into the life of a substitute teacher.
A substitute teacher's day can be booked in advance or they can be called into work as early as 6 a.m. or up to 20 minutes before school starts. It's a small price to pay if one loves teaching, as Ms. Jacqueline Steinberg can well tell you.
"I don't find it difficult to do homework or learn new things about areas that don't necessarily cover mine. The art of teaching covers all areas," explained Ms. Steinberg. She did express the idea, though, that the most difficult aspect of substitute teaching was the insecurity on the student's part of seeing someone new in an otherwise set situation.
"A substitute must always be confident of herself and open to new things." stated Ms. Steinberg. Surprisingly, substitute teaching has many good things going for it and is as rewarding, perhaps even more so, than teaching on a regular basis. As a substitute, Ms. Steinberg pointed out that she feels there is more of a variety in the different situations presented to her; and she has an opportunity to meet, by far, more students in the two districts she works for than she would in a regular classroom.
Did you ever wonder about the person behind the stranger who took over one of your regular classes? If you have, then perhaps it's not too late to probe into the life of a substitute teacher.
A substitute teacher's day can be booked in advance or they can be called into work as early as 6 a.m. or up to 20 minutes before school starts. It's a small price to pay if one loves teaching, as Ms. Jacqueline Steinberg can well tell you.
"I don't find it difficult to do homework or learn new things about areas that don't necessarily cover mine. The art of teaching covers all areas," explained Ms. Steinberg. She did express the idea, though, that the most difficult aspect of substitute teaching was the insecurity on the student's part of seeing someone new in an otherwise set situation.
"A substitute must always be confident of herself and open to new things." stated Ms. Steinberg. Surprisingly, substitute teaching has many good things going for it and is as rewarding, perhaps even more so, than teaching on a regular basis. As a substitute, Ms. Steinberg pointed out that she feels there is more of a variety in the different situations presented to her; and she has an opportunity to meet, by far, more students in the two districts she works for than she would in a regular classroom.
Asked what was the most pleasant experience she had substituting, Ms. Steinberg replied, "On several occasions when I took over a long term, I was given surprise parties, a corsage, and personal notes thanking me for my help. This to me is very rewarding and worthwhile."
Because she is called in to pinch hit in many subjects, Ms. Steinberg spends much of her free time reading in order to have a lot of general knowledge in many different areas.
"I feel as a substitute teacher I should make my services available at all times to the students. This is the philosophy of my work," Ms. Steinberg summed up.
Substitute teaching? Is it worth having students signing fictitious names on the attendance sheets, sneezing at synchronized times, and having a wrench thrown in daily plans? The next time you think about signing "Howard Sprague" on the attendance sheet, take a good look at the stranger in your regular teacher's place. You might actually learn something.
Because she is called in to pinch hit in many subjects, Ms. Steinberg spends much of her free time reading in order to have a lot of general knowledge in many different areas.
"I feel as a substitute teacher I should make my services available at all times to the students. This is the philosophy of my work," Ms. Steinberg summed up.
Substitute teaching? Is it worth having students signing fictitious names on the attendance sheets, sneezing at synchronized times, and having a wrench thrown in daily plans? The next time you think about signing "Howard Sprague" on the attendance sheet, take a good look at the stranger in your regular teacher's place. You might actually learn something.