Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Video Day
Today I went to the school district offices and watched the required videos. Ugh, the most recent one was made in the early 90's. At one point a fellow watcher's phone rang it's MIDI ring and for a few seconds I thought the "music" was part of the soundtrack. I can summarize the 3 videos very quickly for you.
1. Title: Office Safety
Summary: DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID!
2. Title: Sexual Harassment
Summary: DON'T SEXUALLY HARASS PEOPLE!
3. Title: Blood Born Pathogens (this one was 45 minutes long)
Summary: DON'T TOUCH BLOOD!!!!
There, that was my morning.
I turned in my application while I was there. Now all I'm waiting on is my TB results. The clinic said that it would take a week or two to get the results. Here's hoping it's a week!
1. Title: Office Safety
Summary: DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID!
2. Title: Sexual Harassment
Summary: DON'T SEXUALLY HARASS PEOPLE!
3. Title: Blood Born Pathogens (this one was 45 minutes long)
Summary: DON'T TOUCH BLOOD!!!!
There, that was my morning.
I turned in my application while I was there. Now all I'm waiting on is my TB results. The clinic said that it would take a week or two to get the results. Here's hoping it's a week!
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
The Many Hoops
Since my last post PetSmart has called and offered me a job which I declined so I can pursue subbing. I have almost finished filling out applications for 4 school districts in the area and have found out everything I need to do to get this sub thing going.
So far, the worst part of filling out these apps has been looking back through my college transcripts and reporting my grades. A 2.5 GPA... how embarrassing. Makes me wish I had studied harder during college. Oh well, nothing I can do about that now. If I ever go to get a masters degree I won't be making that mistake again.
I bet you're waiting with baited breath to hear what kind of hoops one has to jump through to become a substitute teacher in the freezing cold state of Illinois.
1. Fill out an application for each school district.
2. Send copies of my college transcript with the application.
3. Obtain a current substitute teaching certificate ($20 + $30/school district).
4. Get a TB test. Unfortunately, I have to get the chest X-ray because I tested positive to the skin test a long time ago (no, I didn't have TB).
5. Watch 2.5 hours of videos (this is called "training") on the subjects of Office Safety, Right to Know (right to know what?), Sexual Harassment Awareness (like anyone could be unaware of this), and Blood Borne Pathogens. Sounds like an exciting morning.
6. Once I finish watching the videos I'll be given even more (unspecified) paperwork.
7. Get fingerprinted.
It's not an unreasonable list, but it's a far cry from the "Just ask to be put on the sub list and they'll do it," that I've heard from some people.
So far, the worst part of filling out these apps has been looking back through my college transcripts and reporting my grades. A 2.5 GPA... how embarrassing. Makes me wish I had studied harder during college. Oh well, nothing I can do about that now. If I ever go to get a masters degree I won't be making that mistake again.
I bet you're waiting with baited breath to hear what kind of hoops one has to jump through to become a substitute teacher in the freezing cold state of Illinois.
1. Fill out an application for each school district.
2. Send copies of my college transcript with the application.
3. Obtain a current substitute teaching certificate ($20 + $30/school district).
4. Get a TB test. Unfortunately, I have to get the chest X-ray because I tested positive to the skin test a long time ago (no, I didn't have TB).
5. Watch 2.5 hours of videos (this is called "training") on the subjects of Office Safety, Right to Know (right to know what?), Sexual Harassment Awareness (like anyone could be unaware of this), and Blood Borne Pathogens. Sounds like an exciting morning.
6. Once I finish watching the videos I'll be given even more (unspecified) paperwork.
7. Get fingerprinted.
It's not an unreasonable list, but it's a far cry from the "Just ask to be put on the sub list and they'll do it," that I've heard from some people.
