With pounds of weight of burdening books and worksheets meant to consume the coming night, walking into a classroom with an awaiting essay can break you.

The sight of a sub’s face during these times can be a relief. Sometimes they offer busy work just to pass the time, which can lessen your stress in knowing that the work will be no challenge. The subs that students most look forward to offer no work at all.

When a student is given so much freedom in the classroom, you can see an assortment of ways to waste time. One set of girls will sit in the corner taking photos on their iPhones, a group of guys will play video games on PSP’s and on their smart phones, and a select few amateur artists will doodle on their binders.

The advantage in having a sub is the opportunity of extra class time to make up work, if well managed.

Many students use this time to catch up on homework that’s been piling up on them. These precious 50 minutes can make the difference in an hour of sleep, which every high school student has come to know as a greatly valued thing.

I personally have seen the benefits in subs.

If a student has a test coming up, they find the time to do some much needed studying that they may have otherwise missed out on due to the massive influx of assignments from other classes.

If a student finds it hard to read at home because of the countless distractions they face, this time can help them concentrate on the reading that could change their grade because there was no need to Sparknote the chapter.

If a student does not comprehend the material in a class, this time provides them with the chance to get help from their peers and provide a deeper understanding.

Though classes supervised by a sub are notorious for being a period of talking and play, its advantages when used correctly are immense.