The lowly sub

A resource found in every public school system across the USA is the substitute teacher. It is a resource that is pretty much wasted. To put it more accurately and more bluntly, it is a resource that the education establishment exploits and shits on.

I have a suggestion which would transform the substitute teacher program into an engine for positive reform.

Get substitute teachers into classrooms WITH certified teachers.

A sub generally works completely alone. They get a call in the early morning, sometimes the night before. They get a school and a teacher name. They show up before school starts to report to the office. They get a key and if they are lucky they get a lesson plan for the day. Then it is all up to them to get along with the students and try to create some education. At the end of the day, they are gone. Nothing is learned. No data is collected. Maybe the sub writes a note for the teacher saying the kids were "good" or "bad". But generally it is true that the experience of the substitute has absolutely NO impact on the teacher, on the school, on the students.

Could we change that? Sure.

A simple but dramatic step forward would be to get substitutes to appear regularly in classes with teachers. They could be paid for a certain number of days in the classroom based on how many days they teach alone. Teach two days in isolation, and get paid for one day in a classroom with a professional teacher.

What could that accomplish? Lots.

- It would show subs what methods teachers are using, and spread good ideas about methodology, materials, etc.

- It would lighten the load of the teacher, allowing them to focus on serious issues.

- It would professionalize the subs, improving the quality of that group of employees.

- It would give students someone else (besides the single teacher) to relate to, learn from.

- It would allow subs to become more familiar with the teachers and students.

- It would show subs particular problems (educational or behavioral) and how they are handled.

- It would allow subs to gather information about teacher performance, making them a source for evaluations.

- Conversely, it would allow regular teachers to see and evaluate subs.

- It would create a sense of participation and bonding between school and substitute.

What would be the drawbacks of such a proposal?