The substitute teacher
Nicholson Baker
Being a substitute teacher has to be one of the most awkward and thankless jobs imaginable. There’s really no way to be prepared, because chances are you got called at 5:30 that morning to show up in front of a bunch of ornery adolescents.
But none of that stopped writer Nicholson Baker from signing up to be a substitute teacher in Maine, where he lives. His book, "Substitute: Going to School with a Thousand Kids," chronicles 28 days he spent filling in for elementary, middle and high school teachers.
For Studio 360, Baker read an excerpt about one of those days, when he taught an eighth-grade English class.
(Originally aired September 1, 2016)
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!