$70/hour

9/17
I got a call the other day to fill in for an English teacher who would be gone for the afternoon. The robot voice on the phone said I should show up at 11:00, prepared to take over the final three periods of the day. Seems simple enough...right?

It actually was pretty simple, in fact it was incredibly simple. It turns out that, due to an odd rotating block schedule that the school employs, and the fact that the teacher had the last-period class on a field trip with her (I didn't know this to begin with), I was only responsible for covering a single period of Creative Writing. I've taught creative writing in the past, so I was excited it was on the schedule. CW can be a lot of fun, and it's always interesting what the students can churn out when they really try.

So I arrive at the school at 10:45 - it's my policy to always be early when I'm subbing, especially for a 1/2 day assignment - and collect the documents and key from the main office. The sub plans tell me to report to the computer lab - not an issue - and when I find it there's a cluster of students waiting for me.

"Are you the sub?"
"You got it..." I say as I find the right key to unlock the lab.
"Dude, you're late. Class started 15 minutes ago."
I feel my face flush. I hate being late, especially when another teacher is relying on me.
"Really? They told me to show up at 11:00." Stupid computer, the system didn't account for the block schedule.

The students filed in as I read through the plans. It appeared that, for the next hour I would be responsible for taking role, handing out a worksheet, prohibiting the use of games, and hoping that they truly do "know what they're doing"; a bold statement when deal with most high school students. I was pleasantly surprised, as the majority of the students got right to work, furiously mashing away at their respective keyboards in order to churn out a creative piece of their choice.

The time passed slowly, as it always does when I have little opportunity for interaction with the students. I spent the time looking over shoulders, reading snippets of student work, and ensuring that none fell to the nearly irresistible temptation of addictinggames.com.

An hour later the bell rang, I waited for the students to print their work and file out, and locked the sauna-like lab behind me as I left. I located the teachers' classroom after a few moments of searching, and threw my stuff behind the desk. I reviewed the lesson plans again, and even though the schedule said their was another period left in the day there were no plans to speak of. This isn't a big deal for me, as I have enough experience to know how to occupy a class without a prescribed lesson, so I settled into the teachers' chair to wait.

The bell rings.... no students come in. OK, maybe they're all late. 20 minutes go by.... still no students. I pull out my book - Bram Stoker's Dracula, which by the way is awesome - and get lost in the adventures of the Harker's, Van Helsing (not the Hugh Jackman bootleg version) and Dr. Seward. I look up 30 minutes later to an empty classroom, and decide to go ask the secretary what the hell the deal is.

She smiles up at me when I walk in. "Oh - I forgot to tell you she has her last period on a field trip, so you can leave if you want."
I gladly hand over the sub folder and rosters, and thank her as I turn to the door.
"Sorry about that," she pipes up "enjoy your afternoon!"
I turn to look as I walk out "Oh no problem, have a good one!"

I pull out of the school at 1:30; a full hour and a half before the day is technically over.
Sweet, I just got paid to watch students type for an hour.