I’m a sub, and I’m very new, but I don’t know what to do with this situation. What I do know is I am angry, disgusted and shocked by a Para’s comment to a kid in a CLA class.

I took a sub job for 3rd grade for a couple hours in the morning, then I took a job for subbing for a librarian this afternoon. I checked in with the librarian I was covering, and was told the first class is ECLA or CLA. Never did that before, so why not, it wasn’t on the sub notes, but I’ll do anything because I need the experience and the pay. I get the resources, books, coloring, and this is where I head to the classroom and wait for the kids and paras to come in.

One part that really upset me was this male para practically carried this boy in, and this boy was physically hitting and biting this para. And he was trying to be nice, but at one point he joked, “If you don’t stop I’m gonna throw you across the room”. I’m ashamed to admit I laughed, because it caught me off guard, but it was actually concerning. I said “That’s awful” then I said, “He can’t because if he did, I’d have to tell everyone because I’m a mandatory reporter.” I don’t have the para’s name and there were two other women in the room who were working with the other kids, also non-verbal, or somewhat verbal who either wanted to do their own thing or wanted their own space. One of the girls was happy screaming so I read her a book, but I felt so awkward in this situation. I feel like I witnessed what my childhood would’ve been like if I was not advocated for when I was young. I feel like I witnessed something that is too common in SPED, and quite frankly, if I was there as a sub and he felt comfortable with it, would he say that in front of the actual librarian or other certified staff? I don’t remember if anyone else said anything or laughed, but I feel like this is something that I can’t speak out about or I’ll lose my only income, and I haven’t even gotten my first paycheck yet. The male para also made a comment to me about how theres “not much you can do with these kids”, so reading or teaching them essentially was not worth it. The sub notes were saying to read, have kids color, and maybe put something on the Apple TV if the paras wanted it (assuming the best, it’s for the kids, not the adults, but they were also on their phones a lot).

I helped everyone clean up and went back to the library for my next class, but I honestly felt ashamed. I’m at a loss on what to do.

In my opinion, even if it was a joke, because he seemed to say it that way, the kid wasn’t frightened, BUT the kid has needs, of which they wouldn’t tell me, and that’s still a verbal threat AND diminishing students. If the child is neurodivergent or has cognitive disabilities, or honestly any other invisible disability I wasn’t able to catch, I believe they may take that literally or feel like they’re a burden. None of the kids were hurt or anything like that, but children process and comprehend SO much, like how DARE you say that to a child?