The U.S Department of Education NJEA Substitution Teacher Institute reports that up to 10% of teachers are absent on any given school day. That’s quite a bit of time to spend with a substitute teacher. When asked about their experiences with substitute teachers students had a variety of things to share. “Some substitute teachers are very useful and helpful, and some are just plain annoying,” said sophomore Xenyiya Garcia. “What I mean by annoying is that they’re very strict and sometimes don’t follow the rules of the teachers but the ones that are helpful are very much appreciated.” Junior Jaime Cadavid shares that he’s “never had a substitute teacher that tried to help me. They all give me my work then sit down and just check around.” Approximately five million students nationwide in an average of 240,000 class
rooms have a substitute on any given day, according to the U.S Department of Education. Ghada Ataya, who has been a substitute teacher for nine years, was asked why she wanted to become a substitute. “Because I like it,” said Ataya. “It’s a flexible [job]. Because I used to be a teacher in my country, and now it’s a good job for me because I did not make my certification.” Ataya also gave an overview of a typical day in the classroom for her. “I follow all the teacher’s instructions, I let the students know what the teacher needs them to do, the assignment, then follow them, [and] follow up with what they are doing.” Most of the students interviewed believed that the job of a substitute is a relatively easy and laidback job. However, other students made the argument that substitutes that are not respected enough and that in return makes their job much more difficult. Student Leslie Cabrera pointed out how some students lose their focus when the teacher is out. “At times kids get the ability to be on their phones instead of really doing their work,” said Cabrera. English teacher Lindi Stammann stated that students opinions of and behavior toward substitute teachers changes each year. “It depends, some years students absolutely abhor substitute teachers,” said Stammann. “Other years they don’t really care. The only thing I think on why students don’t like substitutes is because substitutes are maybe older teachers. That they used to be a teacher and then come back and they’re retired or the people who’ve never had teaching experience and they try to teach, and they don’t really know how but I love the fact that we have substitutes and I really wish we had more of them.”