Monday Jan 3rd

Finally another story. Ok, so first day back, I teach at a school 2 minute walk away. It was my first time there the whole year, even though I dropped off business cards several months before.

Anyways. I come in, there's nothing planned. The secretary even said 'Plan on winging the whole day' .. okay... someone gave me their computer time, and I got the kids to type up their new year resolutions. Some said silly things like 'I plan not to die' and another about finding a cure for stupidity. lmao..

The pricipal finally found what the teacher had planned for that day and it wasn't much. This was around 10:30. Later he found out I had prep all afternoon. Then around noon, some teacher said 'so you are getting paid half the day?' ya right. I told her I had the whole day booked. Why accept a half day when you can get a whole day elsewhere?

Anyways, the students had music then gym, but at the end I still had them for close to an hour. The principal passed by and was all shocked saying 'I thought you didn't have them anymore!' What a silly man.

Then he found out the teacher would be sick for tuesday too. He said 'You're on' I told him I couldn't since another French teacher had asked for me to come in Tuesday and then the Principal said 'When it rains it pours'

You know, the Principal didn't call me personally. The computer system did. I found my business card in the desk unused, thrown in the back. If they really needed use of a French teacher to fill in for their Immersion and Extended teachers they could have treated me a bit better. oh well

I remember how I took two steps passed the staff room and stopped and said 'Where am I going?' and the Principal in the office entrance said 'You could be Principal!' lol.

Seriously.... My dad is a retired teacher. When he was sick, he used to drive across town and plan the day out for the supply. Because he cared about what his students were doing that day for progress and worried about the supply having a good day.

When I was sick, and I knew the day before, I'd notify the secretary, then organize and make my folders and give them to the secretary. If it wasa the afternoon, things would still be planned out.

Now, I've run into teachers emailing their info to the poor Heads of the department in High schools. So they can scramble for them. I've run into the Principal and Vice Principals running around for me photocopying stuff because a teacher faxed his plans for the day 15 minutes after school had started. ... etc. Monday I was even told by another teacher that she always brought a briefcase with stuff in it just in case. Whatever. I used to bring story books etc. but then I never used them. So I quit.


oh well.


edit: I ran home during a lunch break to make a long distance phone call and for a break. When I came back, the students were out on recess and I had three girls from my grade 8 class run to me and give me hugs.. o.0 saying I was the sweatest substitute they ever had. .. ok, just get one thing straight: They did their work for me, but they told me the last sub they had was really rude.