One of the things that I am noticing: Help me with this anyo

There are quite simply not enough credentialed special education teachers who WANT to sub. If they left the field, they returned to general ed. (many do), or they left the field entirely for other pursuits. I wonder where you think these people are that districts can find specially trained subs. for every need. They really are not paid very well, either.

Are you talking about a long term sub like for illness or maternity leave or the occasional sub?

I basically figure the days the occasional sub is in my son’s resource room are wasted days. As Anitya says, there aren’t subs who are certified to teach LD. And even if they were, so much is knowing the kids, which wouldn’t happen in a day or two.

If you are talking about a long term sub, then I would make a fuss.

Beth

It is *very hard* to find substitute teachers, period.
Hint — are you on your district’s sub list? Why not?

Where do you think subs come from? The job is irregular and undependable; the pay is poor, half a regular teacher’s for the days you do work, and none when you’re not called. There are no benefits. The kids as a habit try to give you a nervous breakdown — “get the sub” is a time-honoured tradition in most schools. You don’t know your coworkers and have no support group. It’s a lousy job.
Subs in general are either people who work out of their homes and can therefore be available on call, such as an accountant; young teachers who couldn’t get a full-time job and are struggling; and retired teachers who come back as a favour. Of course many of them aren’t qualified — if they were fully qualified, within a year or two they’d get a full-time teaching job.
Principals *of course* call people that they know and trust — the situation is bad enough anyway, with the kids looking for every way possible to cause trouble to a strange person who has no way to discipline them later, and principals call, as they should, the same people as often as possible to get some kind of consistency and continuity.

Special ed subs are a whole different category. Many people who sub in other classes wouldn’t know where to start in special ed, and honestly say so. So the pool of candidates is even smaller.

Count yourself lucky that you have subs — in many schools I’ve taught in they couldn’t get any, so teachers on their prep periods got dropped in to try to keep the mayhem down. Neither the teachers missing their prep periods nor the students were happy with this.
In my daughter’s high school, junior and senior students did one class worth of community service, and some of them acted as teachers’ aides. My daughter was the teacher’s aide in Latin and when she was in Latin 5, corrected the papers for the Latin 1 and 2 classes (hey, with 45 kids in the class, the teacher needed the help — and she was an amazingly good teacher whose students won gold medals on national exams, so no complaints). There were several times when the teacher was absent and no sub was available and my fifteen-year-old daughter was the substitute teacher for a class of thirty or more fifteen- and sixteen-year olds.

Again, if you want more subs with experience with special ed kids, start a movement — sign yourself up.

I think you are missing my point here, perhaps I have not been specific enough. Thank you for your input….:)

Just for the record I have…signed up as well as taken these issues up with the school and much further. If I have offended you because I take offense to what I am viewing that is not my problem.

Well, if you’re already out there subbing, then you should be aware of the difficulties involved. If you haven’t started yet, I’d like to talk to you after you’re been in the situation for a while.

I just get a bit antsy when people put pressure on the school system to be all things to all people. Yes, qualified special ed subs would be a very good thing.
Unless your teacher has an awful lot of absences from a chronic disease, this is a minor problem.

I try to convince people to focus the energy and efforts on major issues, like teaching kids in all classes to read so that special ed isn’t overloaded with the results of poor teaching. Or like actually teaching math, so kids aren’t shut out of high school and college options.

Frankly I think this is a big issue. We (my child included) have put so much time, energy and money into remediation and therapy to get this kid back on track academically, socially and emotionally and then a sub comes in, forces the child to read out loud or write on the board, other kids laugh, and we are back at square one. I’m tired of doing damage control and picking up the pieces when this kid falls apart. I’m tired of running to the psychologist and paying $120 per hour to try to get this Kid to not give up.
Now I have supplied my son with a note that he keeps handy incase the there is ever a sub, it asks the sub not to ask him to read out loud or write on the board, etc.

it is really unfortunate that it has to come down to the childs responsibility to remember to carry a note with him/her to prevent damaging effects. ultimately, it is the teachers responsibility to leave important information like this for the substitute, and should this fail, the sub should be sensitive enough to these issues to not force the child to do something he/she is not ready to, whether the sub is qualified or not! i think it really does come down to those who are supposed to be teaching professionals, really don’t have the education about current situations with children including LD, emotional and behavioural disorders, and special needs.
it is unfortunate and disappointing.
teachers should be mandated to attend a course on these relevant and ever present issues after every 3 years or so!

[%sig%]

It is near impossible to find people who are willing (and good) to sub in special ed. Pooky, I doubt it is politics, just need a trusted body in the class. People want better subs lobby to pay more.

I understand your concern regarding people on the PTO board and confidentiality. Or who are friends with the staff. Unfortunately, or fortunately the way you look at it. The people who sit on the PTO board have shown by volunteering for PTO or in the school that they want to be involved and are trying to have a vested interest. They have taken the time to get involved not only with the students, but with the teachers.

I know of parents who will only volunteer for one specific teacher although, their child is no longer in that grade or building. You have to honor that type of devotation to the staff.

The sub issue, well, there is a shortage across the country. The pay is awful. You don’t get the opportunity to become attached and learn about these students. Personally, I hated it. I took the position as a LRE aide instead. I have a BA in business administration. I have seen the worst and best of the sub pool. I think, a lot has to do with the plans the teachers leaves and notes about the students. I think, some teachers believe that the day is a wash and truely regret having to leave their kids.

I can tell this is an emotional issue for you. I would volunteer in this particular room. I would get to know the teacher not only professional and personally. Learn who these kids are. Let her know once you feel comfortable that you would be willing to sub when ever she needed. That is how to get your foot in the door and possibly solve a problem not only for yourself, but the other parents. In our district there is someone assigned for calling subs. I know that a lot of teachers book their own so they know who will be coming and what to plan. I think it comes down to communicating. For the most part administration does not get involved unless their is an urgency, no sub booked or a no-show. I would find out what your district policy is.

I hope this helps. I know in my building, I don’t discuss personal issues about the kids. I usually work with my own students in the same room or nearby in the hall. Just in case there are questions or behavior issues.

I hope this helps, contact me if you need to talk.

Thanks

Are either of you special education teachers?

No, I am a parent that volunteered in a resource room, that my son attended. At the time, I worked as a playground supervisor, then an aide in an inclusive EMI classroom. Currently, I work as the para pro in the same room, I volunteered in four years ago and have doing this position for two years.

I have a BA in business administration and AS in computer information. I enjoy what I do.

What are your thoughts in asking that question? As far as the subs, I am visible enough that I let the teachers know how things went and if they should be invited back. Especially, if I have to step in to handle behavior problems. Or if they were excellent and why…my job is least restrictive and I can work with any student in the building, as long as my kids are taken care of first.

*** When I sign in on my own username it puts me back at the main forum menu. I am unable to E-mail, PM, or post anything under that name. Reason for the guest status…..