# @smeharbinger on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C__VBu6Se9a
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/23286696-smeharbinger-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/4dac95c467.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-09-16T19:19:11.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** The Harbinger (@SMEHarbinger) — https://gondola.cc/SMEHarbinger

## Caption

On the first day of school, building substitute John Tapaoan was given a packet of rosters and a schedule. 

First hour is health. Second is advanced weights. Third hour is nutrition and wellness. Tapaoan wrote the schedule in black ink on the first page, thinking it was temporary. Fifth hour is another weights class. And finally, sixth and seventh hours are health.

This is a normal one-day schedule for Tapaoan. He is used to filling in for absent teachers in all subject areas. What wasn’t normal was how he was asked to follow this same schedule the next day. And the next.

“I had to write [it] down,” Tapaoan said. “Because you know, I was just thrown in there.” 

Almost a full month later, Tapaoan is still following the same schedule. 

He has to rely on other PE teachers such as Doug and Maggie Archer for curriculum — he’s used to being given notes for the day, but Tapaoan had no time to prepare for a full month teaching a class — or longer.

Tapaoan’s normal sporadic schedule of filling in for absent teachers was replaced this year with lessons about the harms of nicotine in health and taking attendance in one 57-person weights class. Admin has struggled to hire a replacement since losing a PE staff member this June, leaving Tapaoan to fill the gap as a long-term substitute.

Being a building sub, I’m [like] a fireman,” Tapaoan said. “I go toward the fire because that’s where they need me.”

He not only has to adapt to planning assignments and activities for three different subjects, he has to do it while managing larger-than-usual class sizes.

Due to an increase in enrollment, class sizes have increased significantly. Teachers say the more students in a class, the harder it is for teachers to keep students on track and have one-on-one time with each kid. This frustrates already stressed-out teachers. 

#storybyaddiemoore 
#socialmediabyaddiemoore 
#pagedesignbyaddiemoore 
#pagedesignbyaveryanderson 
#photobyclarapeters

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## Tags

storybyaddiemoore, pagedesignbyaveryanderson, pagedesignbyaddiemoore, photobyclarapeters, socialmediabyaddiemoore

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