For the unfamiliar, the title of this post is a quote from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The full quote is “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” It is often quoted to make the point that what something is called does not change its characteristics or attributes.

I thought of it because I received a message that suggested I should stop referring to “Substitute Teachers” and instead call them “Guest Teachers.” The suggestion included the observation that ” when kids hear “substitute,” they don’t always have respect because you’re “just a sub.”

I also remembered an incident I experienced while subbing (not guesting) in a second-grade classroom. I was surrounded by a cluster of kids, one of whom was examining the badge I wear on a lanyard around my neck. After a fairly lengthy examination, he said, “Mr. Boomsma, your badge is wrong.” Thinking this might be a teachable moment, I examined it myself. All that was on it was “Mr. Boomsma” and “Substitute Teacher.”

So we studied it together until I admitted I couldn’t find the mistake. He said, quite matter-of-factly, “It says you’re a substitute teacher. That’s wrong. You’re a real teacher.”

I floated through the rest of the day and announced at the office they could keep my pay for the day. (They didn’t.)

The problem kids sometimes have with subs–and subs have with those kids–is not the title. It’s the kids’ past experience with subs in general.

I recall one day when for some reason we had a lot of subs at school, including some who hadn’t yet learned routines and a few who were clearly “out of their element.” At recess, I realized every adult on duty with me was a sub. When I left that day, I joked at the office that having subs was a real pain and challenge! And I also left with an appreciation for why kids might “dread” having a sub.

Calling the sub a “Guest Teacher” isn’t likely to change that. In fact, I don’t want to be a guest at school. I am not a guest. I’m a member of the faculty/staff. I don’t want to hear the kids say, “You’re just a guest.” I’d rather be thought of as a teacher who is substituting for another teacher.

I do participate in several national forums and hear some districts are adopting this approach–I truly do not understand what they think they are accomplishing, other than some subs seem to think it is more dignified. Fortunately, the districts in this area are still hiring subs. I hope they continue.

Of course in the grand scheme of things what those of us who substitute are called won’t matter as much as what we do while we’re there. I think I’ll worry more about that than what I’m called.

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A substitute teacher by any other name would smell just as sweet and teach just as much.

Mr. Boomsma, a teacher who subs