I remember back in high school sitting in Consumer Education class, being taught all the evil tricks of the advertising profession to get you to part with your money by buying something you neither needed nor truly wanted but were convinced you must have. One of the less ethical practices of which we were warned was a technique called “bait and switch,” where a store advertises a really great price on a valued item but then offers only an inferior substitute for sale once you have arrived at the store. I believe I have been the victim of a new twist to this very old, somewhat illegal, and at the very least, unethical practice.
I haven’t been able to blog recently because I have been extremely busy teaching a third grade classroom in my new home city. Before you congratulate me, though, you need to hear the rest of the story. It sounds like a great thing, right? I move to a new city and land only the second job for which I interviewed. I have to confess, too, I am loving every minute of it. Third grade is soooo much more enjoyable than kindergarten was. My principal is a decent human being for a change, my fellow teachers have been warm and welcoming, and my third grade team members are flat-out awesome. Unlike other similar positions I’ve held where I arrive after the school year has started and the other grade-level teachers are allowed to choose which students they will send to me, my current team members did not screw me over by sending me every trouble-maker, ADHD, non-potty trained, habitual cryer, undiagnosed behavior-problem with a helicopter, pot-stirring parent. My classroom reflects the character and homogenous nature of the rest of the grade level. My team members constantly have my back and are helping me through the year a step at a time. I love both of them dearly.
So I should be having the best year of my career…except that I’m not. For all intents and purposes, this year doesn’t even exist. Despite the fact that I only missed the first four or five weeks of instruction, this year will count for nothing. It won’t count toward advancing me on the pay scale. It won’t count toward my retirement. It doesn’t help in any way, shape, or form except that it provides a small paycheck, but even THAT isn’t what it should be. You see, apparently I’m not a “real teacher.” I am a “building substitute,” except that, too, is odd, because the substitute teachers in this district are all procured through Kelly Employment Services, but I am not. Neither is another teacher in my building, who by the way, is not new to the district. She’d worked in our building for 9 years and been with the district for 12 years until she thought she was moving away last spring and resigned her position. When she discovered she wasn’t relocating after all, she reapplied for her position and has had the same experience I have.
Both of our positions were advertised like any other, normal, full-time teaching position in our district and in the surrounding districts. There was nothing to distinguish that these two positions would be any different than any other full-fledged teacher’s. Then, when we came in for an interview, there was no mention that this was a “substitute” position. I was asked the same questions I’ve been asked for any other full-time teaching position for which I have interviewed in several other cities and states. When we were offered the position, there were no indications given in the phone calls and e-mails that these were anything other than normal, run-of-the-mill elementary teaching positions. Neither of us is “subbing” for anyone. No one had my class before me. It was created. My students had another teacher for about 20 days prior to my start date, but this class that I have did not exist prior to my employment. I AM their teacher. I’m not a substitute for anyone.
Therefore, when we were each summoned into the Human Resources director’s office, neither my colleague nor I were prepared for the temporary “work agreement” that was slid across the table at us to be signed. We were expecting a contract. What is this? “It’s what we do with first-year teachers in the school district.” Really? This isn’t my colleague’s first year with the district. How do you explain that? “And, by the way, you don’t get any time off…. If you aren’t working, you don’t get paid…. Oh, and we also calculated your pay based on the lowest level of the pay scale divided by the number of hours you will be working during the year, so you’ll be paid hourly, and no, we will not be taking your education or experience into consideration.” (Because if they did give me credit for all of it, and I’m sure they wouldn’t, they’d find some excuse to discredit at least some of it, but if they did…they’d have to pay me $20,000/year more!)
“Oh, but as far as the other teachers and your parents and students are concerned, you’re a regular teacher just like anyone else. They don’t need to know.” You mean, you don’t want them to know. How can you stand there and hand me this garbage with a smile on your face? How can you spin this as if this is all for my benefit? “Well, this way you can make sure we’re a good fit for you without having to commit to us.” I want to commit to you! I’m all in! How stupid do you think I am? How can you in good conscience treat people like this? How can you look yourself in the mirror every morning? Do the laws that apply to truth in advertising apply to truth in advertising a job?