Teacher Lounge Experience?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blue Ridge
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Blue Ridge

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As a sub, I do not like going into the teachers lounge. I can clearly see an invisible line of demarcation between teachers and subs. In most NYC public schools, teachers sit on one side of the lounge and talk only among themselves while subs are ignored. Of course, this has been my experience.

What's your story?

Are teachers and subs slightly apart in the school system?

Please, do not respond by saying that teachers and subs have nothing in common. There is always something to talk about.
 
I've see this. Personally, I think that we, teachers, are under a lot of stress and we just want to relax. A lot of times you just want to laugh with the ones you already know.
 
I have been on both sides. However, as a teacher and as a sub in VA....WHO HAS TIME TO CHILL IN A TEACHER'S LOUNGE? Duty free lunch is non existant in most schools. They take planning time away from subs and make them cover classes or have hall duty. Teachers always have to work on grading papers, parent conferences, evaluations, and lesson plans. Yes, many teachers call subs "THE SUB" and not by their name. Yes, many teachers ignore subs. And some subs are unfamiliar with the school and know NO ONE in the building and have no one to talk to during the day.
 
My experience was the opposite when I was subbing, especially at schools where they knew me. There were definitely cliques, but they had to do with personalities, I think. And I belonged to one when I was at a middle school for a long-term assignment.

You have to remember, those people work together every day and have relationships formed for who-knows-how-long. It's really nice when a group or an individual makes an effort to befriend you; that's for sure. I really don't think teachers TRY to exclude subs. But not all extend themselves toward someone they may never see again. Some do, though, and that is a good thing.
 
I have been on both sides, I personally stay clear of the lounge. The just get so caught up in their own convo that they aren't thinking of chatting with a sub or other teachers at that. Hell I'm a teacher and I don't convo in the lounges, don't take it personal!! I appreciate Subs. You can talk 2 them first 2 you know. Just introduce yourself.
 
My step mom was a sub for a year and she was at a midlde school one day. She noticed the smae thing, that the teachers aren't very fond of subs. But she's the type that dones't care so she just went about her business... I think she may have tried to talk to one of them(she'll talk to anyone) but the teacher wouldn't engae in the conversation.
 
I go into teacher lounges. Most of the teacher talk to me and the more I sub at that school the more they talk to me. The first time or two I may get ignored. You are a little disconneted if it is something that has been an on going discussion but usally they have topics you can join in on. I got yelled at in the teachers lunchroom at one school. I apprently look a little like I belong in high school and they are not allowed to use the vending machine. They then saw that I was a sub and said they were sorry.
 
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