Attitudes from contracted teachers, and other school staff.

I often hear people say that it must be hard being a sub having to deal with kids' behaviors. Based on my experiences kids' behaviors are the least of the issues.
Let me give some examples. I took a 6th grade job assignment where when I walked in it was the twilight zone. The kids came in, and it was like an office environment. Everybody knew what to do, and they did like little busy bodies without me even having to tell them anything.
Later in the day I had to get through the lesson plan, and that was the hard part of the job. It was like a rocket formula, and sometimes you can't find this or that thing like a set of flash cards.
Some months later I went to the district office, and asked to read reports written on me. This teacher wrote that there were "control problems." Any comments here???
A few weeks later I subbed for the this teacher's friend(both on and off campus). These kids required a little more supervision, but they were still fun to work with, and very willing learners.
They were stuyding the Roman Empire. I turned on the computers to show them pictures of Roman soldiers from osprey publishing.com. I also asked them if they saw the movies Gladiator, and King Arthur which came out in 2000 something where Arthur was a Roman officer, and had a Celtic Mother. The teacher had happened to walk in when I said this.
So months later when I read the report this woman wrote on me, it said that I "was talking about Gladiator, and King Arthur" like I was out on left field somewhere. She also didn't like that I had her computers on because she left a note that she didn't want the kids on them. Also that I was "checking his email." Yes I had osprey publishing back then saved to my email drafts so I didn't forget it. In fact I use my email drafts to store a lot of things that I'll use as an educational tool.
No she didn't ask for any explanation. She just wrote that I was a bad sub. Anybody see a pattern yet?

Just to continue what I wrote before. I had another class the kids had a unit on natural disasters. I told them of my experiences as a kid where when Hurricane David was approaching Florida I had to go with my parents to the hospital and sleep on the floor for about 2 nights because it was being used as a shelter.
This teacher then wrote that I wasn't following her lesson plan. Could somebody explain to me? There was a teacher that I subbed for that said that there were teachers that go out of their way to find faults with subs and pencil whip them for it. When he told me this I really didn't see it. I definitely do now. He told me it was a thankless job. I was new back then, and wasn't jaded. I am now jaded, and no longer new.
I understand that there's some odd characters that sub but everyone should be given a chance, or at least a fair trial.
There's the English teacher that I subbed for at a high school where I offhandely said to the kids while I was taking role that it was the most important thing I could do as far as the people above me were concerned. If at the end of the day they go home, and haven't learned anything from me it's not a big deal as far as the beuracracy is concerned, but God forbid I submit attendence. The kids tell the teacher. The Teacher puts me in her "dumb box." It's a spot on the board where she puts anything she considers dumb said in the class. I found out because I subbed there a few days later. I wrote her note explaining myself. She takes the note to the office, and the secretary is telling me the principal was going to read it. I asked her to read it herself because somehow or other it was being assumed from this that I don't consider attendence important, or that I'm one of those subs who doesn't take his job, or lesson plans seriously. Reads a newspaper, and ect.. After actually reading what I wrote the secretary actually changed her tone, and I never heard anything from the principal.

Of course teachers aren't the worst at this. Administrators I think much worse. My first day of subbing at a middle school, there was a lady who I think was some kind of administrative assistant. She had walked into the room which apperently was in order. Kids were listening, and I was about to play a film.
Since I didn't know how to contact the office should the need arise in the future(now I use my cell) I asked her kind of humourously where's the panic button. In those words. Picture her like Chicken Little. "The sky is falling." Next thing I know this principal who I'm glad had to resign there later is going through the room like a cop, or the Gestapo.
Worse than that though was the Vice principal who brings a disruptive, and physically assaultive girl back into the class after I sent her out, and tells me in the middle of the classroom with all the kids watching, "From now on don't overload the office. Handle discipline problems in the classroom." Yes I made the mistake of not sending this girl to a partner teacher for Time Out.

Ah yes this same V.P. also reprimanded me in front of student for talking on my phone. Fact of the matter was I was receiving the lesson plans from the teacher who had a last minute call in. No I didn't exlain to her wanting to protect him the teacher from any repercussions.
She would also often walk into classrooms without so much as a greeting(professional courtesy please), look like the Dragon Lady, and then just leave, walk around, and then leave. If ever I felt like I was nothing this was it.

There's also the issue of other staff that when they say a sub handling a discipline issue or having to raise their vocie a little or not even that, just getting themselves settled in with the kids, they feel they need to interpose themselves between the kids and the staff, yell at the kids, and admonish them for the sub.
As a sub I hate this. I swallow it because I don't want to make waves in the district. I want to stay employed, so I don't offend the person by telling them what I want to tell them which is look....
Do you want these kids to respect me, even if it's only for a day? If you do than please stand back, and allow me to deal with things, and establish my own boundries, so they respect me, and not you. If I need your support in any way I'll let you know....Thank You.

Dumb Things Teachers Say to Substitute Teachers

1. "You're not Mrs. _____!" (No s***, Sherlock.)
2. "Is Mrs. ______ out today?" (If she wasn't, I'd most likely still be in bed.)
3. "They're never like this when Mr. _____ is here..." (Thank you for your support.)

And finally, my personal favorite...

4. "Who are YOU today?" (Can I go back home and decide?)

...Add your own if you feel so called. Let's have some fun with this.