Substitute Teacher Tells History Firsthand and the Students Learn

Mr. Blume and his temporary wards found common footing on a patch of narrative ground where every human, it seems, can stand: “Let me tell you a story about when I was young,” he said, and every young face turned to listen. It is Mr. Blume’s trademark.

On any given day in the United States, about 274,000 people report for work as substitute teachers.

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/04/nyregion/04teacher.html?_r=1&oref=slogin