Letter: Homework For Greenwich Residents

Our public schools have a homework assignment for the residents of Greenwich. It calls for an immediate investigation of The Greenwich Board of Education policies and practices concerning its treatment of substitute teachers. Unlike regular teachers that are represented by the teachers' union (CEA), substitutes have no recourse to refute allegations. They are presumed guilty and summarily removed from the Subfinder system and denied future work. According to administrative officials, substitutes are not recognized as Town employees despite that their paychecks are issued by the Town of Greenwich payroll department. Subs are categorized as "at will" workers. As such they have no rights -- including the right to appeal slanderous and/or false accusations. They are often not afforded the respect their role merits by regular teachers and/or school officials. The most flagrant abusive practices occur when they accept special education assignments. Unlike regular teaching assignments that include a lesson plan to follow, special ed assignments do not. In fact, special ed subs frequently receive what appear to be spur-of-the-moment, makeshift instructions that are often inaccurate and/or incomplete. This sets up the sub for "failure to follow instructions" and other false accusations that result in he/she being removed from the Subfinder System for future work. 

Both regular teaching assignments and special education assignments specify the name of the teacher requesting sub coverage. Despite this, when subs report for special ed work they find themselves being misdirected and/or being assigned servile/non-teaching tasks such as shredding papers, or instructed to go from classroom to classroom to ask if the teacher needs help. The experience is chaotic and exasperating. And while this is happening (and unbeknown to the sub) derogatory reports are being made to the principals and Board of Ed alleging poor or unsatisfactory performance. Subs are effectively powerless and subject to any false accusations that virtually anyone above them decides to allege. 

This entrenched corruption is ripe for investigation. The hierarchy occupies an insular, inscrutable, impenetrable, and ostensibly infallible domain. Perhaps "mystery" substitute teachers could be used to reveal the unscrupulous and defamatory abuse of subs. Unless it is experienced and documented by an objective third-party, the system will continue to plague dedicated, conscientious subs. Subs should not be treated as subservient pawns and given inaccurate instructions that set them up for failure. Subs, like regular teachers, are subject to err. They are not infallible. They are also not scapegoats to be used to conceal the ineptitude of special ed sycophants and the corrupt administration that preserves and perpetuates their abusive practices. 

There are many subs that are more highly educated than the regular teachers they are subbing for yet they are treated like non-entities and everyone's pawn to overlord. The situation is despicable and merits the outrage of victimized subs and town residents alike. Let your voices be heard. Recognize that the sycophants that swim in the school to stay in the school are insecure cowards. 

Advocate substitute rights. They are long overdue.

Harry Dill,
Norwalk