I have  now been two days this week, (and am committed to a third,) doing geometry classes, attempting to help students learn ratios. In both cases, the classroom teacher has been gone multiple days. Day one, the students understanding of the subject was done in by a sub who apparently knew less about the subject than he thought he did; the regular classroom teacher, by word of the students, is absolutely stellar at her job, but currently done in by shoulder surgery, and the sub's attempt at instruction fu*ked them up royally. Today, (and tomorrow,) it's the regular classroom teacher who, by word of the students, is almost grossly incompetent. Very few students in the four hours I was charged with, understood much of anything, in what should have been review. The point? Mostly that incompetence (or competence,) knows no job title. Teacher accountability should be an issue all the way around. Also, you can't assume, particularly with advanced math, and particularly given that young minds are really not "built" the way adult brains are, no matter what teens would like to think, that just knowing math (or any other subject,) qualifies you to teach it. You have to be able to make it easy to understand, or you risk making things worse. I admit I don't know math all that well, but so far, I've put the time into getting to know it so I can actually explain it. And admittedly, I ain't perfect. If I had my way, I'd stick to English like I know I can actually be competent at. Never mind the typical classroom teacher's "leave the sub with a pile of worksheets, that'll keep 'em out of trouble," ethic. Uhhhh, no. Doesn't work like that. Normally there's a point in the day where I could either do with a top hat and cane, or a taser. But, of course, neither one would be following the lesson plans, or the law, so there I am. I want the full-time, classroom teachers to think about this. And yourselves. And your students. Please.