So here I am now on my fifth day of substitute teaching this week. High school days are always the most enjoyable, I usually get time to do my own work. They're nice breaks after working with the younger kids, who tend to suck the energy out of you, even if they are a 'great class'. I was looking forward to it after yesterday, middle school, which is, by far, the most challenging age group to work with.
But yesterday, it wasn't the students who tested me. My day consisted of three blocks, where two class periods are grouped into one, and those students stay in the room the entire time. Out of all the schools, middle school is always the toughest. They only give the students 3 minutes in between classes to begin with, but all of the classes I had were expected to stay in the room the entire time for the two periods. It seemed a little unfair, not letting them leave in between what would be a 3 minute break that the students in the regular block get. If I were the teacher, I would allow the students to at least go to the restroom and come back during that time, but I don't make the rules.
I do try my best to follow them though, but when it comes to allowing another person to relieve themselves, you are walking a fine line between going against policy and ethical responsibility. So when one of the students asked to use the bathroom, I told him to make a smart pass and go. The smart passes are on their computers, and apparently they limit the amount of students who can be out of the classroom, and they also limit the amount of times you can use a pass. If you run out of passes, you are expected to stay in the classroom.
This student was out of passes, so I didn't let him go at the time. It was soon after class had started and after he asked, other students continued to make the same request. I let them go, one at a time, using their smart passes. I had done this all day with my first two blocks, and didn't have any issues with it. It was during that third block that there was a paraprofessional in the room to aid. Usually having another adult in the classroom is helpful, but not yesterday.
As I began to go over the assignment and class expectations and explaining the zero level noise tolerance instructed by the teacher, the para cut me off to ask the class if they wanted music. She then proceeded to turn on the teacher's computer and pull up music, with the volume at full blast while I was giving instruction.
I usually wouldn't mind — I like that sort of instrumental music myself, but the volume was distracting to some students. Eventually I turned it down, which the para noticed, but that wasn't what resulted in her seeking out support from another member of staff.
Soon after the students started asking for bathroom passes, she announced that there were to be no more passes. I asked her what the issue was and she told me that too many students were taking advantage of having a substitute, which was 100% valid, and is something I experience quite often. However, so long as they are following school policy, I don't concern myself with whether or not they actually have to use the bathroom. It's just not a battle I want to get in. So I explained to her, I have no issues with allowing the students to make a pass, and go to the bathroom, one by one, when they ask, as it does not go against any policy.
I thought it would be the end of her taking lead in the classroom at this point, but it wasn't. Later in the class, the student with no passes asked again with urgency if he could use the restroom. It had been awhile, and I believed he had to go. So I told him to go quickly and come back, but then the para stopped him. "You don't have any passes!"
I couldn't believe she was trying to control this bathroom situation. I told her, "No, I am not going to take a chance of someone having an accident. He can use the bathroom."
The class went silent after that. She went silent and still, her face flushed on the side I could see as I went back to the teacher's desk to take my seat. She was sitting in front of it for a moment, then she got up and walked out of the classroom. Sure enough, just as I expected she came back with the other faculty member. I recognized the staff from a time at that school before because I remember her kicking a student - which is a whole other story I once shared on TikTok.
She asked me if there was a problem. I explained that I wasn’t having any issues—and hadn’t been all day. I explained exactly what had happened and as I was trying to get the entire story out, a student raised their hand, asking for help. And I would much rather help a student than explain the sequence of events in front of the class. I could feel the eyes on me as I explained what had happened, knowing it exposed all the ways this para had been the only issue. It was my opportunity to switch back to what I am there to do—facilitate a learning environment in the absence of the permanent teacher. The staff member left shortly after, and I didn’t have any more issues with the para that day.