‘Substitute Teacher’ No Longer A Pc Term

The term “substitute teacher” no longer is acceptable in the Coeur d’Alene School District.

The proper term: “guest teacher.”

The new title “gives more authority to the position and in reality is a better description of what they are doing,” says Kelly Ostrom, the district’s human resources director.

Besides, every child knows: When a substitute is in class, it’s a day of play.

Ostrom says she expects the new formal title will change students’ long-held disrespectful attitude toward substitutes.

She says she thinks the term “guest teacher” was introduced to the district several years ago by former Lakes Middle School Principal Larry Hall. It’s just now catching on districtwide.

“The subs say they like it,” Ostrom says, accidentally resorting back to the old, not-so-politically-correct slang.