Be a Sub They Said

When you think of the word "sub" or treat it as a prefix it could mean below or being less than expected. As in "sub-par" or "sub-standard." In the sports world the word means a replacement. Put me in coach, I'm ready to play.

In the education world a sub is the teacher who comes in for a teacher who is out. (I know you know this.) It could be due to sickness, a conference, or a personal day. The sub is a pinch hitter. When I looked up "pinch hitter" the reason for using a pinch hitter was for injury or "when the pinch hitter is thought to have a better chance of reaching base or helping other runners to score." 1 I don’t think of pinch hitting for the regular teacher in this way. The regular, day-to-day teacher is doing all of the heavy lifting. She is on the front line of teaching the class. I am a sub.

Teaching has been described by many as a "noble profession." Some have reacted to the word "noble" because it implies aristocracy. What makes it noble is that teachers educate future generations. Future doctors, electricians, lawyers, and farmers.

Teachers have the potential of influencing a society that is healthy, harmonious, and erudite. (Thank you https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/erudite?s=t) Students acquire skills by going from point A to point B to point Z. That makes it noble.

The rewards are endless. I love staying in touch with former students via Facebook. (The Boomers' mode of staying in touch.) I love seeing how they are doing in life and work and family. The rewards come at the end of the year with cards and letters and notes. As a sub the reward may come from a wave in the hallway or a note slipped on the teacher's desk. I received such a note last year. I still have it.

Support your teachers. It is needed now more than ever. Wawa gift cards are always appreciated. Positive emails with words of encouragement can be even more valuable.

Written on Labor Day 2020 the traditional last day of the summer.

1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinch_hitter