Who Is To Blame?
By kellys3ps
@kellys3ps (3723)
United States
May 25, 2008 12:02am CST
Things did not add up in math class when a couple of eigth graders engaged in an adult act while a substitute teacher was present. The incident described in this news cliphttp://www.lilsugar.com/1644830 , took place at Pulaski Middle School in New Britain, Connecticut.
While the students are definately to blame for their inappropriate behavior, as a substitute teacher myself, I can not believe that you could have such little control over your class not to know that this is going on. I have a rule that student's are to remain in their seats at all times (they must raise their hand to sharpen their pencils or go to the bathroom) so that I know where they are. I also walk around the classroom so that I KNOW what is going on. How something like this could happen is unbelievable!
What do you think? Is the sub to blame?
5 people like this
9 responses
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
25 May 08
I had not heard about this. My first reaction is that, yes, the substitute teacher should have been more aware of what was going on in the classroom.
Sadly, though, my next reaction is about the state of classrooms. I'm a dinosaur, I know. But when I was that age, students would not have tolerated that behavior in their classrooms either. At the very least, someone would have piped up and said, "Get a room!" alerting the teacher to what might be going on.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
25 May 08
When I was 12 and 13 kissing a girl was
a huge ordeal yet alone this type of act.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@WindWhisked (147)
• United States
25 May 08
That's very disturbing news. :( Not to mention that my sister goes to a school one town over. While teachers are paid relatively well in Connecticut, I know for a fact that substitute teachers get about $70 a day. Not to mention that they don't know where they'll be when. My heart goes out to the students and their families who were appalled, but perhaps there should be more structured training of substitute teachers and a higher rate of pay for these people who are responsible for the welfare of our young children.
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
25 May 08
I agree! I am a sub here and we get absolutely NO training! You are literally just thrown into a classroom. Luckily the pay is better here - $100/day.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
25 May 08
This is unreal. Even if some kids did hide the act how could the substitute not hear the act at all. Something needs to be done as far as teachers paying more attention to the actions of their students as well as to their education. I think the blame lies on the school district. Basically for hiring incompetent educators.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
25 May 08
I am not intending to insult you in anyway so let me make that clear before I Say this, and anything else I might add later on in this response. Not all, but there are a select few that were mean when I was in school. I remember one that as soon as you heard her name, you dreaded her... and this was even for the good students who behaved for a sub. Is it true that a teacher can request a sub, or does the sub just come and the teacher doesn't know who it will be?
I think that the students were mature enough to know that doing it in class was wrong, and it's sickening as we've seen so many cases of it across the USA recently. However, the substitute should have been more observant, and reacted differently.
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Teachers CAN request a sub, usually they don't bother, they just let the secretary call the people on their list.
@athinapie (1150)
• Philippines
25 May 08
Whoa! This really happened huh? Well I think that the substitute teacher didn't want those students to act that way. On the other hand, he was the teacher for that day and he should have told those students to stop doing those bad deeds. But those students, nevertheless, are still responsible for their inappropriate behavior.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
25 May 08
While the sub was in the classroom, that classroom was their responsibility. I have seen teachers when I was in school however, especially subs, never leave their desks. They'd sit there and just look at the classroom. If they saw something odd they'd get up and try and figure out what the deal was, however they didn't move around the room much. We were pretty free to do what we wanted otherwise. So, sub or not, that teacher is responsible.
@saivenkaat802003 (4823)
• India
25 May 08
I must put things this way, Every one of us know their duties and responsiblities, that we are to abide by inorder to live in this society. And therefore, going by this the sub teacher, and both the students have not followed what is expected of them.
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
25 May 08
That is horrible! Obviously the teacher was not even paying attention to the class, much less teaching them anything. I watched the video, and they stated that some kids were blocking the view of the teacher, so the teacher couldn't see. What were they even doing out of their seats? Yes, it is the sub's fault, I would also lay some blame on the parents of these kids, who are not teaching them anything about acceptable behavior.
