Never liked the word, probably because I grew up in a family of either self-employed or entrepreneurial individuals. So it’s been a weird week in a weird month in a weird year. I’ve been subbing every day for three weeks, although only have two days scheduled for NEXT week. Have over a dozen days on offer from a high school I said I’d never go back to. And was recently offered $175/day to sub online for another school whose faculty has opted to strike for reasons I have yet to determine despite reading all the news coverage thereof and discussing it with union leaders in the community.

Let’s start with the school I said I’d never go back to. Discipline issues. BUT. Most schools are going on reduced enrollment so I’d be dealing with a reduced class size, which helps. Many classes lack the critical mass it takes to be truly disruptive, although I suspect the cm needed there is a good deal less than at other places. Additionally the everpresent mask seems to be cutting down on classroom issues. No whispering so no sub-rosa shenanigans to escalate. May well give this school a second chance should I find myself needing a gig.

Then there’s the school I barely missed qualifying for a bonus from last year. Principal recently approached me and offered a long term gig subbing for a math teacher with a high-risk pregnancy. I of course said yes. Good school atmosphere. And the bons is still out there. If this gig is long enough it could get me close to qualifying … again.

And then there’s the strike. I’ve stayed away for ONE reason. We’d be subbing remotely. 100% on line. And the classes would be accessible by the public (parents and striking teachers.) There’s no WAY I wanna become the feature figure in THAT national news story.

Otherwise the gig is going well despite da gubmint’s best efforts to screw with it. Students are being educated. And I’m keeping food on the table the the wi-fi turned on.

edited to add a few links:

If Your School District Pulls What One Tennessee District Has, Know Your Rights.

I Just Went Back To School In Person. It’s Not Scary

Faculty Struggle With Burnout During COVID-19.

I feel like faculty, overall, have had things a lot easier than say grocery workers or meatpackers, but they’re also a bunch of delicate complainers.

HOMESCHOOL! IF YOU MUST USE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR BABYSITTING (NO JUDGEMENT) THEN HOMESCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL.  What Our Children Learn In School.