Most of the time, students walk into their classes with a plan of action. They have a general plan of what they are going to be learning or working on for the day.

Sometimes there is a wrench in their plans. They walk into the classroom only to see that their teacher is gone for the day and may be pleased or disappointed to find out there is a substitute teacher for the day.

A lot of the time, the teacher will leave certain instructions for the substitute to follow or an assignment for the students to work on while they are gone. There may be a substitute that isn’t as educated in the class they are taking over for the day.

“We are almost always just doing filler work when there is a sub,” senior Alassa Barber said. “I think there are certain classes a sub can’t blend into very easily because of what we are learning.”

Students are expected to treat their substitutes the same way they would treat their regular teacher if that teacher was in class.

“I try not to behave differently,” sophomore Adam Klausmeyer said. “Sometimes I do because it’s not the same person I’m used to.”

Barber said she thinks substitutes should be treated with as much respect as full-time teachers get.

“They’ve worked hard,” Barber said. “They deserve respect too.”

Though many students obey that rule, there are some cases where a few students may act out or behave differently because there normal teacher is absent for the day. In most cases, the substitute relays the progress or the outcome of the day back to that teacher.

Because students are given specific instructions with what they are supposed to be working on, they don’t always feel the need to acknowledge the substitute, instead getting straight to work.

“I just pretty much do my own thing no matter what,” sophomore Madison Karlin said. “I don’t think I really like to have substitutes in any classes because they usually don’t know how to explain the work the teacher left or help the students.”

Substitutes that take over GPS classes may have an easier time supervising students because it is a study hall and students are working on many different subjects. Certain teachers make videos for their lessons when they know they are going to be gone so their sub doesn’t have to worry about teaching a new lesson.

The way the students act towards subs is a factor that determines how they will act towards the students. If there is a mutual respect from both parties, the day will more than likely go smoother.

Many students prefer to have a sub that is more laid back and allow students to complete their work without being too controlling or strict. Barber said she enjoys having subs that are genuine and nice.

“Some subs are just kinder, some are rough because they’ve been walked all over,” Barber said. “I love the kind ones that are genuinely interested in our well-being.”

17jdake@usd489.com