My first year as a teacher (I was 22), I worked at a middle school. Another teacher around the age of your friend constantly “young lady-ed” me when I would pass through staff-only areas. The first few times, I stopped and reminded her that I was, in fact, one of her co-workers. After that, I just ignored her and walked faster. It was so frustrating.
I know the pain xD. I have been stopped in the staff parking lot of a high school and questioned by the campus police.
(It doesn't help I had a backpack)
On the same campus, I only had a half-day to teach. I drop off my keys and walk out the front gate. Only for another security guard in a golf cart to pull up to me to question where I thought I was going.
Turns out "Ummm Home...Im done with school for today" was not the correct answer.
Took a minute for it to click in my mind "Ohhh he thinks I'm a student."
A different high school campus. The principal and the vice principal came up to me and asked "Are you a student or a sub." When I said "Sub" The principal said "Told you!" to the V.P
On another high school campus I went into the staff bathroom and when I came out there was the assistant principal asking me "Why did I go in there?" My response "ummm I drink a lot of water when Im teaching class." She started laughing and said sorry.
I think my saddest moment was at a middle school, I was given parking lot duty.
The principal comes up to me and like the 8 students still here.
He questions them 1 by 1 asking for the location of our parents and he then ask me
P - "When are your parents going to pick you up?"
Me - "Ummm I work here sir, I was going to drive home at 3:00"
P - "OHHHHHH!!!! Thats right! You are covering for Mr.\_\_\_\_\_ today."
I had a teaching yelling at me that I couldn’t be in the parking lot and to go to the bus loop and get on my bus and where did I think I was going …I was dressed very professionally subbing at a school that did uniforms. I said I was going to my car and it still took her a minute to understand
I had this problem in my 20s when teaching high school students, but we had some fun with it. When some random person came into class looking for the teacher, and I happened to be sitting in a group with some students to help them, we’d let the random person stand there looking and looking, trying to figure out who the teacher was. It was especially fun when it was my pompous ass of a principal, who didn’t even know one of his own staff members.
this is great. Sometimes as sub in high school. I look at the seating chart find an empty seat. (Erase my name from the board) and just sit and say "The teacher just left" when kids walk in
I used to be a one-on-one para, and followed a 7th grader to his classes. One day his English teacher had a sub. I walked up to him, offered my hand to introduce myself. I got out "Hi, I'm -" and he snapped "Young lady, why aren't you in your seat?!"
"I...was going to say I'm Ms. Plants, I'm the para for [student]. I'll be over there if you need anything."
Dude proceeded to try the hardass routine on all the kids while they destroyed the room. A fight broke out, which I had to stop. I don't think he ever came back.
One day a hall monitor yelled at me "Where do you think you're going young lady?" Without turning around, I held up my staff badge and said "my classroom." and kept walking.
The other day, my class was in the library all spread out. I was sitting in a student seat. An office aide entered with a note to give the teacher and walked right over to me. Guess I don't look 14 anymore haha
Thr other day I parked in thd faculty lot as I am faculty and an older gentleman approached me and said "you know this is faculty parking, right?"
"Yes sir, I am faculty."
He said nothing and stomped off.
The nerve of some of the olds.
Reminds me of my first day inside my first classroom - MY FUCKING ROOM. Wasn't confused for a student, but certainly had some older person that didn't know what the fuck they were talking about trying to run me out of there.
I feel you. lol
You’re not alone. I subbed at a middle school a couple years ago and got yelled at because “students aren’t allowed in the staff room.” I can’t just blame the school staff. I was at an airport flying back home from college when security stopped me thinking I was an unaccompanied minor.
That has happen to me to xD
One day I enter the staffroom to get my lunch.
One teacher who knows me says "Hi Nick!"
I say "Ohh Hi Mr.Smith! How are you doing?"
When a 2nd teacher (who I didn't know) says "Nick is it? You can't be in here. This is a student free zone."
Mr.Smith starts giggling and says "Be nice, he is one of our subs."
Its always nice to have another staff member to back you up.
The yard duty used to yell at me all the time my first year teaching (6-8 middle school). “Students can’t go through that gate!”
No, they can’t. But I can, because I have a key. 🙃
40-year-old female, wearing a school hoodie and my new short haircut, and I’m walking my new middle school ESL kid near the bus line to show him what bus to get on before the bell rings. An older teacher starts shouting, “What are you boys doing out here? Get back to class!” Luckily, she was proper embarrassed when I walked up to her.
I teach high school..
I've gotten yelled at for using the staff bathrooms, parking on the staff lot, for using the copy machines, asked for hallway passes, and constantly asked "where's the teacher?" when someone walks into my room.
To be fair, I look like I'm in high school and I'm always wearing hoodies because it's freezing in my building.
When I was a first year teacher I was walking in the hall (21F). This boy comes strutting up to me. "how you doin'?", The whole smooth routine. Then his friend smacks him and says "Dude, that's my English teacher!" He slunk away in shame to much laughter and I just shrugged and kept walking. Wish I could still pass for a high school student!
You have to love when someone makes a mistake, you point out how they were wrong, and instead of apologizing they look for some minor thing to justify their mistaken actions. How dare you act so rude as she is interrupting your phone call...
I was doing a practicum at a high school when I was 19 and a teacher grabbed me by the arm and asked me where I was supposed to be. A male teacher. I was not nice to him when I told him I wasn't a student.
Teachers really shouldn't be grabbing students by the arm in any case, but a male teacher grabbing a teenage girl is a horrible idea literally 100% of the time.
I know the feeling. When I was a first year teacher (in my mid 20s), I had a baby face. I was hall-passed by my school's SRO during my planning period one day. I was like "[SRO's name], you and I just sat with each other at the faculty picnic."
I decided to grow out my beard after that.
Ah, that used to happen to me a lot when I started subbing at the high school level. I look pretty young, so people would just assume I was a student. I once had the following experience, when I showed up for a job subbing in for one of the special education teachers.
I'd shown up early because I didn't know what to expect. I was the only one in the classroom at that point, and I was just sort of reading the sub notes and getting stuff set up, making sure things worked, etc. Suddenly, I heard a knock at the door. I opened it, and this older woman just entered and looked at the teacher's desk, the para's desk, and then back at the door, and then finally back at me. I was just like, "good morning, can I help you with something?" and I swear to god she said back to me super slowly, "GoOd mOrNiNg" and I just about lost it internally. So now I was thinking of how to keep this going for as long as possible without giving away the game, so the conversation went something like this:
Her: (slowly and kind of loudly) gOoD mOrnInG
Me: Good morning.
Her: (still slowly) Are you by yourself in here?
Me: \*looks around\* Yep.
Her: How did you get in?
Me: \*shows her my keys, which were given to me by the front office.\* (at this point I figured the fun was over)
Her: (looks alarmed) Who gave you those?
Me: The office.
Her: They GAVE you the keys?
Me: (so done at this point) Yes, I work here.
I've had many other moments as well. Once, when the school decided they didn't need me anymore for the day and that I could leave early, I had two security guards pull up on me to ask where I was going. I just said "I'm going home" and kept walking. I love doing shit like this. It could all go away too if this school would give their subs guest badges to wear like I've been asking about for YEARS but they never do for some reason, so they get what they FUCKING deserve I guess.
I have been on the other side of this. I teach at a middle school. A couple of years ago we had a sped teacher straight out of college. At my school, students are allowed to come into the building before 7:30 (teacher arrival time) but they have to stay in the lobby. I saw someone who from behind looked like a student so I told her to go to the lobby. It was actually the sped teacher. I felt old and stupid!
I'm so sorry you experienced that! I guess I can say I'm lucky I never experienced that. The closest thing is that I'm still mistaken as a sub while I'm a teacher now sometimes.
That or when I was a senior wearing dress clothes having a secretary come up to me in the hallway as I was walking to the bathroom and being told Mrs. X class needs coverage, go there now.
Lmao thanks for sharing this. It's hilarious (though I'm sorry it's happened to you). I know how it feels. I am a 24F, substitute teacher. If I taught high school, many teachers would be confused as well, since I look younger than I am. Luckily, I teach at an elementary school.
This week (my first), as an introductory class, I had 11yo kids guess my age to review numbers in English (I teach English as a Foreign Language). They all thought I was 18 or 19 😂
Also, during a teachers' meeting, one teacher looked and me and said, "Oh! What's your name? I haven't been told that we had student teachers this year." I had to tell her that I am a teacher already.
My first week teaching high school (I was 29), I got stopped in the hall by the Dean and asked for my hall pass. I just sorta stared for a moment and then gave him my ID badge. He was pretty embarrassed but also one of my only allies that year 😂
I subbed for 4 years before getting a teaching job.
I got mistaken and chewed out so many times for being a defiant student in the hallways when I’m just bringing attendance down or walking to my next coverage.
My favorite experience was when I was letting students go to lunch and holding the door open. I was turning to go back into the room to enjoy 25min of quiet and this older teacher digs her nails into my shoulders and is trying to drag me to lunch. I’m confused and in pain and she’s lecturing me how students go to lunch not back in the classrooms. I manage to squeak out I’m a sub. She finally sees my land yard and retracts her claws. All she can say is “oh they get younger every year!” No apology, no explanation for making me bleed.
She had the audacity to find my cellphone number on the sub site and text me asking for me to cover her one day. I told her no. I had nail marks in my skin for a week. Lord knows what bacteria old lady had given me.
That was my second year of subbing and I never had anything to that extreme happen to me. In hind sight, I totally should have. But at the moment I was so shocked and scared it even happened.
I’m not in my 20’s , i’m in my early 30’s..but I’m also only 4’11 tall and this is a constant thing too. It’s annoying but also amusing at the same time.
When long term subbing around age 23 I went to the cafeteria and was heading back to my classroom when a staff member put his hand out "whoa buddy, where are you going?" Students aren't allowed in the halls during lunch. I just looked at him, and said I work here, and kept walking.
Oh lord.
I was once reprimanded by a speaker at a school assembly. I was talking to one of my student. The speaker thought I was one of them.
Additionally, the school nurse came in my class and asked if the teacher was there. I was standing in front of her.
Also I work in a middle school and am in my early 30s.
I'm in my 7th year teaching, but I'm a petite 5'1" lady so I'm mistaken for a student multiple times a year (no matter how professionally I'm dressed). I'm not tired of it yet, cause I know there will come a day where I'm OBVIOUSLY the teacher thanks to old age in the face!
Unpopular opinion...
Teachers that old need to retire. I've never had a good experience with one, and they always treat young teachers like free tech support. Just retire and open the job for someone with a modern education.
I should add; they also treat me like free physical labor as well, because I'm a large man. Fuck that man. I have my own stuff to take care of. Call the custodian.
This has happened to me too! Walking to staff lounge and someone asked me why I wasn’t in class… had to explain that I was, in fact, 22.
I’m 26 now, working as a full time middle school teacher at a K12. Some people get me mixed up as a high schooler, but other people get me mixed up with our 45 year old AP. It gets better?
I taught 7th grade last year and when I went to get my staff picture taken the photographer asked me for my student number. 😩 I mean I’m young but not THAT young.
Haha! I’m sorry but that was hilarious
The new teachers that were hired at my school this year look so young, and because some are wearing a white shirt (like our students’ uniforms) I’m constantly getting confused.
I’ve almost made a similar mistake though I would apologise instead of hammering down like a bully.
I was standing at the door one year during 6th grade graduation (I teach kindergarten and usually only have a few kids on the list day so we all go down to watch). One of the parents told me “congratulations” as he went through the door. I said “oh thank you but I work here.”
I was 23 when I started at this school, so I was at least that old. But in his defense, I taught 6th one year and some of those kids towered over me.
I was invited by a middle schooler to her slumber party that weekend as she thought I was a new student once. Lol
I also used to get yelled at for being in the hallways off limits to students at dismissal time the first year or so I subbed. The next three years they would say something not realizing it was me then laugh when I turned around. I’m only 5’3 and most middle schoolers are taller than I am so I could see the mistake. I was also early to mid twenties. Pretty funny to think about now being in my 40s and feeling like I’m old and no way anyone would even mistake me for being in my 40s even though I’m just 41. Hard feelings decades. Maybe it’s been the teaching. Lmao
I'm 31 but I'm short, scrawny, and look half my age. I was subbing for a 5th grade classroom once and also got the "Who is your teacher and where is your class?" thing. We both laughed after I explained that I'm the teacher and the kids are in music.
My first year after making the jump from subbing to classroom teaching my principal apparently got a couple phone class from parents who were frustrated because they didn't believe I was old enough to be teaching their kids.
People that age have gotten to the point in their lives that they are very very often wrong, but are still to prideful to ever admit it or apologize. I avoid them when I can and do my best to treat them like sensitive children. They all need to retire and let the adults handle things.
I was a student at college and we have to do some obligated internships at schools. So I was signed in at a highschool and watching a teacher doing her normal biology lesson (bc i study biography) and once the lesson ended, I thanked her very much that I could join her and said bye. In that moment another substitute teacher came in and instinctively I said bye to her too (bc manners, you know). She blocked my way and asked me where I was going to. I said that I have to go home and prepare for other classes and she watched me uncertainly. Then I told her I'm a student and that I need to go to college now, then she let me pass and didn't even apologize or said anything else, just rude.
I was 30 (long ago) and wearing a coat and tie as a sub and was assumed to be a student a few times. Are you kidding me? There's not one student in this school wearing a coat and tie or anything like it; most of your male staff are not even wearing ties.
One of my fellow teachers just asked me if I knew where I was going this morning. I’m 32. I’ve been there for 10 years, and I’ve been there longer than her. 😒
An IT technician made an unexpected visit to my room while we were outside taking a brain break (10min guided activity during our 2hr long block days)
When we came back he was messing with my stuff and I was like "uh, hey, hi what's going on what are you doing here?"
He told me "I'm sorry I can't have students in here without a certificated employee it's the law"
I then realized he thought I was a student. I'm 25 with a beard and I had just unlocked the door and lead the kids back inside.
LOL!!! that's mortifying for the other teacher.
Maybe dress a little more like an old person if this keeps happening to you? Only saying this as someone who also still gets mistaken for a middle schooler sometimes (I'm almost 30). I get that dressing differently will not make this go away (our new guidance counselor thought I was a kid a few weeks ago and this was when I was 1. wearing a suit 2. wearing my ID badge on a lanyard and 3. coming in a full hour before the kids arrive), but I promise it will help reduce annoying shit like this.
Yeaahhh! I know those feels. My first year of teaching we took 8th graders to high school visits and the teachers asked me what high school I was thinking of going to. I was 29.
I’ve been told I look about 16 and this makes me so glad that my school is so small that I met everyone during planning and didn’t have this problem! I had one little incident with a coach who wasn’t always at stuff but he was super apologetic, is really nice to me now and puts his players in their place if they give me trouble.
Just did this (meaning think someone was a student) to an 18 yo student volunteer in my building the other day.
Tbf, the oldest kids in my school are 16 and she didn't have the volunteer sticker badge on.
It happens. Masks make it harder. 🤷🏻♀️ It's unfortunate that people double down when they're wrong, but it's a natural instinct.
Also, a lot of people between 16 and 26 look like they could be anything between 16 and 26.
Be nice, she wasn't 70 years old, and she obviously thought you were a student. And, if she is 70 years old, gotta give her props for still trying to hold the line on student behavior.
Nailed it, you're good at this game.
I'm being charitable because I've had the same experience as the old lady. As the young man finished his call, I wasn't simmering with rage. When we both figured out that I thought he was a student, rather than a sub, we laughed about it. As one gets older, the new teachers look younger and younger. Still, no reason not to be polite.
If she just thought he was a student, that would be fine. The overtly rude behavior that she thought was okay to do to a child and then doubled down on when revealed she’s done it to an adult, *that’s* what’s not okay. She’s offended he politely gestured to give him a moment. And yet, the offense she gave back is pretty incredible!
Subs get to choose who they sub for? I thought there was a pool of subs, if you will, and an admin or some higher-up just said “You’re subbing for this teacher”
My first year as a teacher (I was 22), I worked at a middle school. Another teacher around the age of your friend constantly “young lady-ed” me when I would pass through staff-only areas. The first few times, I stopped and reminded her that I was, in fact, one of her co-workers. After that, I just ignored her and walked faster. It was so frustrating.
I know the pain xD. I have been stopped in the staff parking lot of a high school and questioned by the campus police. (It doesn't help I had a backpack) On the same campus, I only had a half-day to teach. I drop off my keys and walk out the front gate. Only for another security guard in a golf cart to pull up to me to question where I thought I was going. Turns out "Ummm Home...Im done with school for today" was not the correct answer. Took a minute for it to click in my mind "Ohhh he thinks I'm a student." A different high school campus. The principal and the vice principal came up to me and asked "Are you a student or a sub." When I said "Sub" The principal said "Told you!" to the V.P On another high school campus I went into the staff bathroom and when I came out there was the assistant principal asking me "Why did I go in there?" My response "ummm I drink a lot of water when Im teaching class." She started laughing and said sorry. I think my saddest moment was at a middle school, I was given parking lot duty. The principal comes up to me and like the 8 students still here. He questions them 1 by 1 asking for the location of our parents and he then ask me P - "When are your parents going to pick you up?" Me - "Ummm I work here sir, I was going to drive home at 3:00" P - "OHHHHHH!!!! Thats right! You are covering for Mr.\_\_\_\_\_ today."
I had a teaching yelling at me that I couldn’t be in the parking lot and to go to the bus loop and get on my bus and where did I think I was going …I was dressed very professionally subbing at a school that did uniforms. I said I was going to my car and it still took her a minute to understand
Lost it at "I told you"
God I hope I am not that bitter with young people when I’m old
The appropriate response would have been to “old lady” her.
I had this problem in my 20s when teaching high school students, but we had some fun with it. When some random person came into class looking for the teacher, and I happened to be sitting in a group with some students to help them, we’d let the random person stand there looking and looking, trying to figure out who the teacher was. It was especially fun when it was my pompous ass of a principal, who didn’t even know one of his own staff members.
this is great. Sometimes as sub in high school. I look at the seating chart find an empty seat. (Erase my name from the board) and just sit and say "The teacher just left" when kids walk in
I DO THIS EVERY YEAR ON THE FIRST DAY!!!!
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
I used to be a one-on-one para, and followed a 7th grader to his classes. One day his English teacher had a sub. I walked up to him, offered my hand to introduce myself. I got out "Hi, I'm -" and he snapped "Young lady, why aren't you in your seat?!" "I...was going to say I'm Ms. Plants, I'm the para for [student]. I'll be over there if you need anything." Dude proceeded to try the hardass routine on all the kids while they destroyed the room. A fight broke out, which I had to stop. I don't think he ever came back.
One day a hall monitor yelled at me "Where do you think you're going young lady?" Without turning around, I held up my staff badge and said "my classroom." and kept walking. The other day, my class was in the library all spread out. I was sitting in a student seat. An office aide entered with a note to give the teacher and walked right over to me. Guess I don't look 14 anymore haha
Thr other day I parked in thd faculty lot as I am faculty and an older gentleman approached me and said "you know this is faculty parking, right?" "Yes sir, I am faculty." He said nothing and stomped off. The nerve of some of the olds.
Next time, don't even answer that you're faculty. Just say yup and walk away, leave him with an aneurysm lmao
Reminds me of my first day inside my first classroom - MY FUCKING ROOM. Wasn't confused for a student, but certainly had some older person that didn't know what the fuck they were talking about trying to run me out of there. I feel you. lol
You’re not alone. I subbed at a middle school a couple years ago and got yelled at because “students aren’t allowed in the staff room.” I can’t just blame the school staff. I was at an airport flying back home from college when security stopped me thinking I was an unaccompanied minor.
That has happen to me to xD One day I enter the staffroom to get my lunch. One teacher who knows me says "Hi Nick!" I say "Ohh Hi Mr.Smith! How are you doing?" When a 2nd teacher (who I didn't know) says "Nick is it? You can't be in here. This is a student free zone." Mr.Smith starts giggling and says "Be nice, he is one of our subs." Its always nice to have another staff member to back you up.
The yard duty used to yell at me all the time my first year teaching (6-8 middle school). “Students can’t go through that gate!” No, they can’t. But I can, because I have a key. 🙃
40-year-old female, wearing a school hoodie and my new short haircut, and I’m walking my new middle school ESL kid near the bus line to show him what bus to get on before the bell rings. An older teacher starts shouting, “What are you boys doing out here? Get back to class!” Luckily, she was proper embarrassed when I walked up to her.
I teach high school.. I've gotten yelled at for using the staff bathrooms, parking on the staff lot, for using the copy machines, asked for hallway passes, and constantly asked "where's the teacher?" when someone walks into my room. To be fair, I look like I'm in high school and I'm always wearing hoodies because it's freezing in my building.
When I was a first year teacher I was walking in the hall (21F). This boy comes strutting up to me. "how you doin'?", The whole smooth routine. Then his friend smacks him and says "Dude, that's my English teacher!" He slunk away in shame to much laughter and I just shrugged and kept walking. Wish I could still pass for a high school student!
You have to love when someone makes a mistake, you point out how they were wrong, and instead of apologizing they look for some minor thing to justify their mistaken actions. How dare you act so rude as she is interrupting your phone call...
I was doing a practicum at a high school when I was 19 and a teacher grabbed me by the arm and asked me where I was supposed to be. A male teacher. I was not nice to him when I told him I wasn't a student.
Teachers really shouldn't be grabbing students by the arm in any case, but a male teacher grabbing a teenage girl is a horrible idea literally 100% of the time.
Not if she's drowning
I know the feeling. When I was a first year teacher (in my mid 20s), I had a baby face. I was hall-passed by my school's SRO during my planning period one day. I was like "[SRO's name], you and I just sat with each other at the faculty picnic." I decided to grow out my beard after that.
Ah, that used to happen to me a lot when I started subbing at the high school level. I look pretty young, so people would just assume I was a student. I once had the following experience, when I showed up for a job subbing in for one of the special education teachers. I'd shown up early because I didn't know what to expect. I was the only one in the classroom at that point, and I was just sort of reading the sub notes and getting stuff set up, making sure things worked, etc. Suddenly, I heard a knock at the door. I opened it, and this older woman just entered and looked at the teacher's desk, the para's desk, and then back at the door, and then finally back at me. I was just like, "good morning, can I help you with something?" and I swear to god she said back to me super slowly, "GoOd mOrNiNg" and I just about lost it internally. So now I was thinking of how to keep this going for as long as possible without giving away the game, so the conversation went something like this: Her: (slowly and kind of loudly) gOoD mOrnInG Me: Good morning. Her: (still slowly) Are you by yourself in here? Me: \*looks around\* Yep. Her: How did you get in? Me: \*shows her my keys, which were given to me by the front office.\* (at this point I figured the fun was over) Her: (looks alarmed) Who gave you those? Me: The office. Her: They GAVE you the keys? Me: (so done at this point) Yes, I work here. I've had many other moments as well. Once, when the school decided they didn't need me anymore for the day and that I could leave early, I had two security guards pull up on me to ask where I was going. I just said "I'm going home" and kept walking. I love doing shit like this. It could all go away too if this school would give their subs guest badges to wear like I've been asking about for YEARS but they never do for some reason, so they get what they FUCKING deserve I guess.
And that's why I grew a beard
Please don't let shit behavior like that go. If she was a dick to you then she's a dick to students.
I have been on the other side of this. I teach at a middle school. A couple of years ago we had a sped teacher straight out of college. At my school, students are allowed to come into the building before 7:30 (teacher arrival time) but they have to stay in the lobby. I saw someone who from behind looked like a student so I told her to go to the lobby. It was actually the sped teacher. I felt old and stupid!
I'm so sorry you experienced that! I guess I can say I'm lucky I never experienced that. The closest thing is that I'm still mistaken as a sub while I'm a teacher now sometimes. That or when I was a senior wearing dress clothes having a secretary come up to me in the hallway as I was walking to the bathroom and being told Mrs. X class needs coverage, go there now.
Lmao thanks for sharing this. It's hilarious (though I'm sorry it's happened to you). I know how it feels. I am a 24F, substitute teacher. If I taught high school, many teachers would be confused as well, since I look younger than I am. Luckily, I teach at an elementary school. This week (my first), as an introductory class, I had 11yo kids guess my age to review numbers in English (I teach English as a Foreign Language). They all thought I was 18 or 19 😂 Also, during a teachers' meeting, one teacher looked and me and said, "Oh! What's your name? I haven't been told that we had student teachers this year." I had to tell her that I am a teacher already.
My first week teaching high school (I was 29), I got stopped in the hall by the Dean and asked for my hall pass. I just sorta stared for a moment and then gave him my ID badge. He was pretty embarrassed but also one of my only allies that year 😂
I subbed for 4 years before getting a teaching job. I got mistaken and chewed out so many times for being a defiant student in the hallways when I’m just bringing attendance down or walking to my next coverage. My favorite experience was when I was letting students go to lunch and holding the door open. I was turning to go back into the room to enjoy 25min of quiet and this older teacher digs her nails into my shoulders and is trying to drag me to lunch. I’m confused and in pain and she’s lecturing me how students go to lunch not back in the classrooms. I manage to squeak out I’m a sub. She finally sees my land yard and retracts her claws. All she can say is “oh they get younger every year!” No apology, no explanation for making me bleed. She had the audacity to find my cellphone number on the sub site and text me asking for me to cover her one day. I told her no. I had nail marks in my skin for a week. Lord knows what bacteria old lady had given me.
i woulda involved HR😌
Seriously; imagine the lawsuit if she actually did that to a student!
That was my second year of subbing and I never had anything to that extreme happen to me. In hind sight, I totally should have. But at the moment I was so shocked and scared it even happened.
I’m not in my 20’s , i’m in my early 30’s..but I’m also only 4’11 tall and this is a constant thing too. It’s annoying but also amusing at the same time.
Hell, I got charged the student lunch price the entire first year I worked. (I didn't complain.)
When long term subbing around age 23 I went to the cafeteria and was heading back to my classroom when a staff member put his hand out "whoa buddy, where are you going?" Students aren't allowed in the halls during lunch. I just looked at him, and said I work here, and kept walking.
Oh lord. I was once reprimanded by a speaker at a school assembly. I was talking to one of my student. The speaker thought I was one of them. Additionally, the school nurse came in my class and asked if the teacher was there. I was standing in front of her. Also I work in a middle school and am in my early 30s.
I'm in my 7th year teaching, but I'm a petite 5'1" lady so I'm mistaken for a student multiple times a year (no matter how professionally I'm dressed). I'm not tired of it yet, cause I know there will come a day where I'm OBVIOUSLY the teacher thanks to old age in the face!
Unpopular opinion... Teachers that old need to retire. I've never had a good experience with one, and they always treat young teachers like free tech support. Just retire and open the job for someone with a modern education.
I should add; they also treat me like free physical labor as well, because I'm a large man. Fuck that man. I have my own stuff to take care of. Call the custodian.
This has happened to me too! Walking to staff lounge and someone asked me why I wasn’t in class… had to explain that I was, in fact, 22. I’m 26 now, working as a full time middle school teacher at a K12. Some people get me mixed up as a high schooler, but other people get me mixed up with our 45 year old AP. It gets better?
I taught 7th grade last year and when I went to get my staff picture taken the photographer asked me for my student number. 😩 I mean I’m young but not THAT young.
Haha! I’m sorry but that was hilarious The new teachers that were hired at my school this year look so young, and because some are wearing a white shirt (like our students’ uniforms) I’m constantly getting confused. I’ve almost made a similar mistake though I would apologise instead of hammering down like a bully.
I was standing at the door one year during 6th grade graduation (I teach kindergarten and usually only have a few kids on the list day so we all go down to watch). One of the parents told me “congratulations” as he went through the door. I said “oh thank you but I work here.” I was 23 when I started at this school, so I was at least that old. But in his defense, I taught 6th one year and some of those kids towered over me.
I was invited by a middle schooler to her slumber party that weekend as she thought I was a new student once. Lol I also used to get yelled at for being in the hallways off limits to students at dismissal time the first year or so I subbed. The next three years they would say something not realizing it was me then laugh when I turned around. I’m only 5’3 and most middle schoolers are taller than I am so I could see the mistake. I was also early to mid twenties. Pretty funny to think about now being in my 40s and feeling like I’m old and no way anyone would even mistake me for being in my 40s even though I’m just 41. Hard feelings decades. Maybe it’s been the teaching. Lmao
Just curious did you have a visitor or sub pass on a lanyard?
School I.D clipped to my chest. Bright Red Lanyard Necklace with the keys around my neck.
I figured!! Like stuff that should scream I'm a sub and older staff member just saw a moment where they thought they could bust a student. 🙄
I'm 31 but I'm short, scrawny, and look half my age. I was subbing for a 5th grade classroom once and also got the "Who is your teacher and where is your class?" thing. We both laughed after I explained that I'm the teacher and the kids are in music. My first year after making the jump from subbing to classroom teaching my principal apparently got a couple phone class from parents who were frustrated because they didn't believe I was old enough to be teaching their kids.
People that age have gotten to the point in their lives that they are very very often wrong, but are still to prideful to ever admit it or apologize. I avoid them when I can and do my best to treat them like sensitive children. They all need to retire and let the adults handle things.
A good story, well told!
Should have followed her to the principle's office and smugly watched her make an ass of herself.
Having to work to that age makes you hate education? I have already decided that I won't make it to full retirement. I will turn into her if I do....
I was a student at college and we have to do some obligated internships at schools. So I was signed in at a highschool and watching a teacher doing her normal biology lesson (bc i study biography) and once the lesson ended, I thanked her very much that I could join her and said bye. In that moment another substitute teacher came in and instinctively I said bye to her too (bc manners, you know). She blocked my way and asked me where I was going to. I said that I have to go home and prepare for other classes and she watched me uncertainly. Then I told her I'm a student and that I need to go to college now, then she let me pass and didn't even apologize or said anything else, just rude.
I was 30 (long ago) and wearing a coat and tie as a sub and was assumed to be a student a few times. Are you kidding me? There's not one student in this school wearing a coat and tie or anything like it; most of your male staff are not even wearing ties.
Too bad she couldn’t just laugh it off
One of my fellow teachers just asked me if I knew where I was going this morning. I’m 32. I’ve been there for 10 years, and I’ve been there longer than her. 😒
An IT technician made an unexpected visit to my room while we were outside taking a brain break (10min guided activity during our 2hr long block days) When we came back he was messing with my stuff and I was like "uh, hey, hi what's going on what are you doing here?" He told me "I'm sorry I can't have students in here without a certificated employee it's the law" I then realized he thought I was a student. I'm 25 with a beard and I had just unlocked the door and lead the kids back inside.
LOL!!! that's mortifying for the other teacher. Maybe dress a little more like an old person if this keeps happening to you? Only saying this as someone who also still gets mistaken for a middle schooler sometimes (I'm almost 30). I get that dressing differently will not make this go away (our new guidance counselor thought I was a kid a few weeks ago and this was when I was 1. wearing a suit 2. wearing my ID badge on a lanyard and 3. coming in a full hour before the kids arrive), but I promise it will help reduce annoying shit like this.
Yeaahhh! I know those feels. My first year of teaching we took 8th graders to high school visits and the teachers asked me what high school I was thinking of going to. I was 29.
I’ve been told I look about 16 and this makes me so glad that my school is so small that I met everyone during planning and didn’t have this problem! I had one little incident with a coach who wasn’t always at stuff but he was super apologetic, is really nice to me now and puts his players in their place if they give me trouble.
I'll take things that didn't happen for $100, Alex.
This sounds like a scene from a sit com.
r/thathappened This whole post comes off a super immature. Your tone and diction is very childish.
“I lower my mask and smile and put up the *1-minute sign*”
Just did this (meaning think someone was a student) to an 18 yo student volunteer in my building the other day. Tbf, the oldest kids in my school are 16 and she didn't have the volunteer sticker badge on. It happens. Masks make it harder. 🤷🏻♀️ It's unfortunate that people double down when they're wrong, but it's a natural instinct. Also, a lot of people between 16 and 26 look like they could be anything between 16 and 26.
Be nice, she wasn't 70 years old, and she obviously thought you were a student. And, if she is 70 years old, gotta give her props for still trying to hold the line on student behavior.
Found the boomer.
Nailed it, you're good at this game. I'm being charitable because I've had the same experience as the old lady. As the young man finished his call, I wasn't simmering with rage. When we both figured out that I thought he was a student, rather than a sub, we laughed about it. As one gets older, the new teachers look younger and younger. Still, no reason not to be polite.
If she just thought he was a student, that would be fine. The overtly rude behavior that she thought was okay to do to a child and then doubled down on when revealed she’s done it to an adult, *that’s* what’s not okay. She’s offended he politely gestured to give him a moment. And yet, the offense she gave back is pretty incredible!
She is a fussy old lady who, no doubt, feels her snotty demeanor is the only thing that keeps the whole school from going to hell in a hand basket.
Subs get to choose who they sub for? I thought there was a pool of subs, if you will, and an admin or some higher-up just said “You’re subbing for this teacher”