Once upon a time I was a substitute teacher and let me just tell you, it was HARD! I filled in for all ages, from early elementary all the way up to high school. There are plenty of embarrassing stories I could tell you but I’ll save those for another post. Yesterday I couldn’t help but wonder what will happen in this new Covid-19 world we live in where, at least in America, many teachers are teaching 100% online. Virtual. Livestream. I think it’s going to be a relief for a lot of elementary teachers who no longer have to babysit but now can actually teach (sidenote: this will be a lot harder on parents, but that’s also a post for another day).
What happens when a teacher calls out sick? Are there substitute teachers qualified and up to speed on the new protocols for teaching? I did a little digging and in the years since I was a substitute, it appears the process is a bit more organized. Back then, any sub who was available may or may not receive a phone call the morning they were needed and they’d have to gitty-on-up to the designated school. It was a bit stressful and definitely unpredictable. From what I read while researching, counties have a pool of subs that are potentially ready to jump in as needed.
In a coronavirus world, I think that’s a good start to solving a possibly huge problem. As if the regular teachers and students didn’t already have a lot on their plate with the new online teaching, this could be another hurdle to students learning.
I guess we’ll see what happens as schools open up and navigate through the ups and downs of a roller coaster that’s a lot like Disney’s Space Mountain. You’re on the coaster, but you have no idea where it’s going next.
-Out of the Wilderness
