Student teachers eligible for substitute duty

Cabrini has become the first college to accept a new program that allows its senior education majors to fill in for teachers in area schools.

by Stephanie Masucci staff writer

The education department at Cabrini College has been noted in the past for its impressive program.

Education majors at the college have the confidence in knowing that they will have a sufficient amount of field experience, when they graduate, to pursue their career.

The professors at this institution are always looking for something new to offer their students.

The new idea that Professor William Kuhns discovered for Education majors is putting Cabrini on the map.

Kuhns, director of student teaching, has received the state's approval to allow Cabrini students to act as substitutes.

This pilot program, which went into effect in September, was a dream come true to the education department.

Cabrini was the first school to accept the new program, which will remain a pilot through September 2000.

Last year, the Philadelphia area had a shortage in substitues. The Substitute Teacher Service fell short of coverage for over 40 days last year.

The benefits of allowing students to take over a class are not only for the education majors but for the children too.

"If a classroom can not be covered by a substitute, that class will be moved into another classroom. Now a teacher has up to or over 60 kids in his or her class. That is not beneficial for the children," Kuhns said.

The way this program works is simple.

If a senior education major has successfully completed his or her requirements of at least 111 credits, as well as a portion of his or with the principal. signed up for this program. Circulation even reached newspapers as far as Switzerland and Spain. her 14 weeks of state-required classroom time, he or she is eligible.

Upon acceptance, the student teacher will then be escorted by the principal to their designated classroom.

The student teacher will be introduced to the class, and then left alone to follow the schedule for that day.

The teachers who are close by will be notified of the situation and asked to check on the student teacher sparadically.

The student teacher will receive $50 per day.

Each student is permitted to work for up to 10 days, if no certified substitute teachers are available.

The education department had another present handed to them earlier in the summer.

"Someone heard our voices," Kuhns said, referring to the passing of House Bill no. 456 during the session of 1999.

According to this bill, students in all colleges and universities who have completed the qualifications to become a student teacher may substitute a class.

The student teacher will leave the teacher that they have been working with, and then go to meet

''The circulation is bizarre," said Kuhns.

Every newspaper in the area knows about how Cabrini is working with this pilot program. Since Cabrini, 11 districts have

Most of the students may even recognize the student teacher since they have been working at the school for a few months.

This pilot program will benefitthe Philadelphia area as well as give education majors a chance to have sole control of the classroom.