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Edskin · 09-01-2008, 10:43 PM

One quick example...and this is really a social commentary more than anything.

Subbed one day for a gym teacher at a pretty rough HS.

This was 100% what they told me to and what they gave me to work with.

There was a gym detached from the main building. I was given TWO basketballs and these instructions "don't let anybody in or anybody out." That's it.

I was stunned when "class" started. This was "block" scheduling, so I really only had 3 classes that day...each lasting for almost an hour and a half. It was a mix of 9th and 10th graders.... as many as 40 kids in the gym at once.

TWO basketballs.....40 boys.......a hour and half............It was one of the worst experiences of my life.

I now see why they didn't want any outsiders coming in. Straight up street thugs pulled up to the gym and would try to get in.....or get their buddies out. At one point, I was using my body to brace the door.

Kids were fighting....I stopped more fights that day.....and these were "real" fights. When I buzzed the front office, there was little to no reponse. At one point, a kid broke a windown. At another point, a boy started urinating on the gym floor....I think he was dared to do it. I figured that would get the office riled up..but all they did was send me a security guard.....when the guard got there and noticed it wasn't a violent act, he left. No one even cleaned up the urine.

One of the "nicer" kids told me that the last sub got jumped...lovely to hear that. And I don't doubt it. When I tried to tell kids they couldn't leave, I would get verbal threats...many looked ready to clock me. I'll tell you, it took all I had to restrain myself-- there was so much anger that day-- channeled in all the wrong directions by all the wrong people.

When the day ended, I left in a daze. I was bothered by this for days after, if not weeks. As you can tell, that afternoon still bothers me.

They threw the kids in a gym and locked the door.....treated them like animals......and the kids reacted in kind. Some education.

09-01-2008, 10:43 PM	#7
Edskin Worth The Wait Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 4,122	Re: Substitute teaching One quick example...and this is really a social commentary more than anything. Subbed one day for a gym teacher at a pretty rough HS. This was 100% what they told me to and what they gave me to work with. There was a gym detached from the main building. I was given TWO basketballs and these instructions "don't let anybody in or anybody out." That's it. I was stunned when "class" started. This was "block" scheduling, so I really only had 3 classes that day...each lasting for almost an hour and a half. It was a mix of 9th and 10th graders.... as many as 40 kids in the gym at once. TWO basketballs.....40 boys.......a hour and half............It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I now see why they didn't want any outsiders coming in. Straight up street thugs pulled up to the gym and would try to get in.....or get their buddies out. At one point, I was using my body to brace the door. Kids were fighting....I stopped more fights that day.....and these were "real" fights. When I buzzed the front office, there was little to no reponse. At one point, a kid broke a windown. At another point, a boy started urinating on the gym floor....I think he was dared to do it. I figured that would get the office riled up..but all they did was send me a security guard.....when the guard got there and noticed it wasn't a violent act, he left. No one even cleaned up the urine. One of the "nicer" kids told me that the last sub got jumped...lovely to hear that. And I don't doubt it. When I tried to tell kids they couldn't leave, I would get verbal threats...many looked ready to clock me. I'll tell you, it took all I had to restrain myself-- there was so much anger that day-- channeled in all the wrong directions by all the wrong people. When the day ended, I left in a daze. I was bothered by this for days after, if not weeks. As you can tell, that afternoon still bothers me. They threw the kids in a gym and locked the door.....treated them like animals......and the kids reacted in kind. Some education.