Sub•ter•ra•ne•ous

adj. existing, situated, or operating below the surface of the earth; hidden or secret underground.  I’ve witnessed some crazy behavior in the 5+ years I’ve subbed (3yrs inner city, 10yrs ago & past 2 yrs in AZ). As in most vocations, some activities go undetected beneath the surface of what can be seen which may directly or indirectly impact a substitute teacher.  Though the ethics of such “off-radar” practices may be questioned,  the actual legal threshold may not necessarily be breached.  Here are just a few of my firsthand brushes with the “strange-but-true” in the world of subbing:  

Nanny state surveillance –you may be secretly recorded via electronic devices. Over the past year I’ve had at least three sub assignments (that I’m certain of ….possibly more), at three different schools where the teacher I was subbing for primed a few students to secretly video tape/record me with their cell phones as clandestine, in-class moles. While this eerily resembles a real “nanny state”, it may just be the bizarre technological reality in the era of the millennial student.  What I find most troublesome about this practice is how students are manipulated by teachers to deal in the realm of deception and then they wonder why students may embrace the ubiquitous practice of cheating.  See related story: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/02/19/pa-school-laptops-used-spy-students-home/

Cyber stalking –if you use a social network (i.e. facebook, twitter, etc.) you might assume a reasonable expectation of privacy that may not really exist and can easily be compromised.  I’m aware a few public school administrators who actively gathered internet “reconnaissance” on subs.  Be very careful of not only how you set filters on websites you use, but be sure to exercise prudence on what you disclose about yourself on those sites.  

Lest the power of suggestion lead you down a dark path of paranoia, let me encourage you to  stick with it.  Don't look (or worry) about something that "might" impact you as a sub -none of us can afford the luxury of expending such valuable energy.  Just be aware that your duties as a sub may be more closely monitored than you  may realize.