The Care and Keeping of Your T.O.C.

The Care and Keeping of Your T.O.C.

Written by Emma Markus, Gr. 10

                Sometimes, for whatever reason, your teacher is absent from class. Oh dear! Whatever will you do? But fear not, for your absentee teacher will have called in a "T.O.C." (A.K.A. Teacher On Call). T.O.C.'s are renegade teachers, with no classroom to call their own. They must spend each work day in a different classroom with different rules, taught to them by a ragtag bunch of say thirty kids, all of whom expect the T.O.C. to have memorized their names by the end of class. One would assume that this would command a certain degree of respect, but evidently not. Why? It is a complete mystery.

                Second grade tricks are all well and fine - when you're in second grade. This teacher on call has to learn the names of about four classes of thirty or so children a day. That is one hundred and twenty kids a day, or eight hundred and forty kids a week. So changing names and switching seats with your best buddy in order to completely trip up the T.O.C. whenever he or she calls you by the wrong name (by laughing loudly, no less!)? Not cool. Show a little respect, huh guys?

                I cannot quite imagine why anyone who went through high school would possibly want to teach it. I mean, having experienced firsthand how horrible high schoolers can be to teachers. But to each her own; I'm not here to criticize. But I am here to talk about T.O.C. appreciation (or lack thereof) so let's roll with that instead. A teacher with their very own classroom can at least establish respect; they have to teach you all year, and can in fact follow misbehaviour through with punishment. So why not act like complete jerks to the substitute, it isn't like they can reprimand you! Isn't that a great idea? No, you fool, haven't you been listening? They have to deal with this nonsense every day, from different kids nonetheless! Why not dare to be different? Be polite and respectful; renew the teacher's faith in the next generation. Go on, I dare you. Oh, and T.O.C.'s leave something called "notes", perhaps you have heard of them? They are like texts, written down in pen on a piece of paper. Revolutionary. These are for your regular teacher, detailing the classes’ behaviour. Yes children, the teacher's know what you did. Run!
               
                 Perhaps you have merely been taking your anger out on the poor substitute, anger stemming from the fact that your regular teacher remembered to call in a sub at all. No free block for you, oh the humanity! Get over it. Have you ever thought that the T.O.C. may be more susceptible to, say, a nice game of thumbs up seven up (Do high schoolers still get to play that, or is it just for elementary school?) if you treated them with respect? I can see from the look on your face that I have given you a lot to think about. It's okay, don't hurt yourself. I know, thinking is hard.

                So please, next time you have a T.O.C. in the classroom, try putting yourself in her (a statistical probability) or his (less likely but still plausible) shoes. These people are here to share their "wisdom" with you, for one block only. They might never see you again, but will remember you forever as "That One Kid With The Stupid Shoes" or something. I'm quite sure you'll agree that that is something nobody wants. So prevent it. Only you can stop T.O.C. under appreciation.