By Nicholson Baker, from Substitute, an account of his experiences as a substitute teacher in Maine public schools in 2014. The book was published last month by Blue Rider Press. Baker is the author of ten novels.

Mrs. Browning, a fifth-grade teacher at Hackett Elementary School, had left two pages of instructions and a stack of worksheets for me on the desk. “Students know that you will be keeping track of their dojo points,” the instructions began. “No peanuts allowed in my room ever.”

A reading specialist dropped by to warn me that the class could be rowdy. “They…