For some students walking in a classroom and noticing that their teacher isn’t present feels like a blessing come true. It also can feel like your worst nightmare. Subs can sometimes rub students the wrong way, or make them feel like they’re the target in the room.

Give subs some credit. Subs do try to help you be successful as much as they can. Students can be very rude and obnoxious, even if the sub acts a rude way towards you, it doesn’t justify the way you treat them because being rude isn’t going to get you what you want without consequences. Nine times out of ten the sub you’ll have is elderly- which makes it even worse if you’re not on your best behavior. They barely can pronounce your name, which is one reason (of many) that makes students think it’s in their best interest to make the subs task even harder.

Teachers will be disappointed if you aren’t on your best behavior. Substitutes are there to make sure you’re doing what you’re suppose to while your teacher is gone. They aren’t there to be taken advantage of. Then there’s students that try to throw parties because their teacher is gone, or students tell the subs the opposite of what’s actually suppose to be going on.   

The disrespect from students is often praised by other students. Students are disrespecting subs- which have done nothing wrong. They’re just helping out your teacher by showing up and telling you what’s expected. Subs are not uneducated just because they aren’t “teachers”. Most subs were a teacher of some kind before. Just because they aren’t your assigned teacher, and may or may not have all of the requirements accomplished doesn’t make them any less of a person or educator.

It’s not wrong to feel a huge weight lifted off of your shoulders because your teacher isn’t present- it’s normal to feel more relaxed.  When the substitute asks you to do something it shouldn’t be a big deal because the tasks given are so small. Being a pain makes a substitute not want to come back to the school or could make them afraid- in my experience. Being respectful isn’t hard, and doing as asked isn’t either. Substitutes usually aren’t half that bad, they occasionally let you do what you want as long as you do or have done what you were assigned.

Students tend to not give the substitute a chance before jumping down their throats and vice-versa. It’s hard enough for them to have to come and attempt to watch over 30 children at the same time. Once again disrespect will not get you anywhere positive in life. Students should give subs the same respect that they give their teachers.