Student behavior problems keep getting worse, say teachers and administrators in a recent Education Week poll. Since 2019, before the pandemic, "there’s been a pronounced spike in behavior problems, ranging from minor classroom disruptions to more serious student fights broadcast on social media," reports Caitlynn Peetz. "Teachers have also reported a drop in students’ motivation."
The 2024 survey results were slightly worse than in 2023, despite schools' efforts to engage students and strengthen student-teacher relationships, she writes.
Not surprisingly, it's bad for morale. “Our school is really struggling with student behaviors (lots of disrespect and not following the rules, and teachers are almost too tired to even care),” one person wrote.