With a growing shortage of teachers, the number of people in Malden High’s Student Study Center (SSC) increases daily. SSC was established as the designated spot for students with absent teachers and no substitutes, but it has turned into a place where people do not have room to think.
“There are so many people in SSC you can not concentrate, you will be very crowded, and everyone is bumping into you. We have too much freedom, so everyone ends up doing nothing. And because it's on the first floor it takes way longer to get to any other class,” detailed freshman Ryleigh Morrow.
SSC provides a space to do work when teachers are absent, but many people take advantage of that time and choose to make it harder for others to get work done. “When I look at the absent teacher list and see that I have SSC, I already know that no work is going to get done because of the environment,” explained sophomore Waina Coles.
One of the biggest conflicts with SSC being so difficult for people to concentrate on is there is almost always a large number of students crowded in a room that doesn’t hold the space needed. “A lot of times, there isn't enough space and we have to send students to the cafe and the gallery,” Karen Bogan, the attendance supervisor in SSC, commented.
Another reason why SSC is always filled with many people is because when teachers are absent, there is most likely not going to be a substitute due to the growing teacher shortage. “When I see that my teacher isn’t here for the day, I know immediately I have to go to SSC because there is no one there to cover for them,” said freshman Danabelle Alceus.
In Malden High specifically, school-based substitutes are contractually paid $17 per hour, as of March 15th, 2024. Depending on certifications, pay can vary for per diem substitutes. Retired Teachers with DESE Certification are offered $135, teachers with a DESE Teaching Certification are offered $125, and those without certifications are offered $100, all per day. Compared to other suburbs of Boston, Lowell’s public schools offer $147.50 to 177.50, Chelsea offers $125 to $185, and Salem offers $130 to $150. With a national teacher shortage, substitutes are less likely to take a position at a lower pay.
The increasing cause of the teacher shortage is most likely because the new generation of students' poor conduct is making teachers not want to do their jobs anymore. With some students fighting, vaping, and skipping class, teachers are losing motivation to put up with this behavior. At Brockton High School, teachers feel that their environment isn’t a safe place for them to work. The other issue with the lack of teachers is the lack of resources. Teachers have the responsibility to pay for everything in their classroom on top of having to pay for personal everyday items.
“The shortage isn’t just because of students' behavior, I think it’s a matter of resources, and in some communities, they are not paying their teachers,” said Dr. Charles Redmond, an English teacher at Malden High School.
When SSC is not overpopulated, it is a great way for students to get things done; even though SSC can get very chaotic, it is also very convenient for students. Although SSC is often overfilled and understaffed, it still is a place where work can get done. It allows students to have freedom over the work they need to accomplish.
Also, when students finish with school work it could be a place to socialize with their peers without being distracting to others. “I think that people just want to have fun and talk to their friends, I just don't enjoy it when it gets too loud,” explained Leica Naceus.
Despite the fact SSC has its issues, it also has positive aspects: it essentially allows students to get their work done when their teacher is absent. It might take a while for SSC to become a more relaxing environment for students, but it gets the job done.
“I try to give the students some space to talk with their friends, to work together if they need to work together; I try to be fair that if they can keep the volume down and be respectful of the people around them, I think that SSC can be a place where they have fun,” laughed Bogan.
