Some substitute teachers
upset with new course
All substitute teachers now working in Hawaii's public schools, not just those without college degrees, must take a new 30-hour course on substitute teaching, a requirement that is riling some classroom veterans.
The change is being phased in gradually over the next few years, and only current substitutes lacking college degrees must complete the course by the end of the next school year. But the recent decision by the state Department of Education is causing some consternation.
"I think that's ridiculous for me -- I have teaching experience and a degree in education," said Lara Wilcox, of Kailua, who taught full time for two years before switching to substitute teaching after having a child two years ago. "It's a great idea for people with no teaching experience, but it should be waived for people with education degrees or classroom experience."
The new substitute teacher course, which costs roughly $100 and culminates in an exit exam, replaces a 12-hour class. Claudia Chun, assistant superintendent for human resources, said the revised course brings teachers up to speed on changes in academic standards, special education, discipline and classroom management.
"It reflects a different attitude," she said. "The attitude is not that we're bringing in people to just watch over the students. That is precious instructional time, time that cannot be replaced."
The federal No Child Left Behind law, which calls for highly qualified teachers, helped spur the change, but the old course needed to be updated in any case, she said. "This will allow substitute teachers to hone their skills," she said.
Teachers who are retiring this year and want to start substituting do not have to take the new course for five years, she said. Others must follow this time frame:
>> Current substitutes without college degrees must complete the course by the end of the next school year.
>> Current substitutes with bachelor's degrees must complete it by the end of the 2004-2005 school year.
>> Current "teacher trained" substitutes, with bachelor's degrees plus 30 credits, must complete it by 2005-2006.
The course will be offered across the state through the community schools for adults. Both summer sessions at Kaimuki Community School for Adults have filled up already, and Maui Community School has not scheduled its classes yet but others have openings.
"All the community schools have been actively involved in preparing for this," said Helen Sanpei, principal of McKinley Community School for Adults. "We have about five sections of substitute teacher classes available. We need to get the word out," Sanpei said.
Salome Sato, a substitute teacher for six years, plans to take the course but questions its rationale. "I'd have no problem going back to school if I felt it was going to help me be a better sub," she said. "But after you've been substituting for five to 10 years, I'm not sure what benefits we'll get and the students will get."
State Department of Education