Why are students behaving so badly and parents refusing accountability?

“I teach first grade, and my group this year has been, shall we say, behaviorally challenged. Constant interruptions (way more than normal for first grade), disrespect, fighting, you name it. I’ve struggled to bring my class under control and I’ve taught over twenty-two years now.”source ↗

“It’s not just me, though; our whole school is struggling with behavior right now.”source ↗

“that’s exactly what happened to me at a previous job. Parent didn’t want to admit their child had behavioral problems so she blamed all his actions and hurting others on me (saying i hurt the kids and blaming it on the student to cover my ass), it got the point i was put on leave and the police/child protective services got involved (i was eventually cleared of all wrong doing but it left such a negative taste in my mouth i never returned to being a full time teacher again ).”source ↗

“It is very disruptive to stop in the middle of instruction, walk all the way across the room, open the door, and then go back, several times each class.”source ↗

“im talking about the kids who absolutely can do the work and just wont.”source ↗

“sometimes he just doesnt feel like doing the fucking work. and honestly, sometimes a parent needs to be told straight up that their child is an asshole.”source ↗

“Every year, there are a number of students who hit, kick, spit, bite, and attack others. In a sane world, we would be allowed to remove them from class. However, because they are identified as disabled, we are not allowed to remove them.”source ↗

“When a student destroys a classroom, that is our fault, not theirs. I don't think this can go on forever.”source ↗

“I have students who can basically destroy my classroom. All we can do is wait until he is done. He has declared on war on the electrical socket. He then tries to shove his pencil in it and screams at it until he is done.”source ↗

“It felt really bad to just be powerless to stop what was going on with about half the class as the other half attempted to do their work.”source ↗

“I'm going to keep working for the 6 weeks it's going to take to pull my retirement out of my account in another state I used to work in, and then terminate my contract.”source ↗

“I suck at this, this is not my strong suit, and I'm willing to admit that no matter how much I enjoy the good days; I can't cope with how bad it really gets.”source ↗

“Have you ever noticed that most teachers agree PBIS doesn't work?”source ↗

“I’ve tried to pinpoint the exact issue I’m having (besides the fighting, name calling, overall dislike of each other, constant disruptions, not able to listen at all, and unable to treat school supplies and property with respect), and I think I figured it out.”source ↗

“This is the first group of first graders that I truly believe majority have NO understanding of why they are at school, why school is important, or what they are there to do.”source ↗

“One of my classes has had the worst behavior I’ve seen in my 8 years teaching the same subject.”source ↗

“They’ll ask for random rewards or things out of the blue, only to follow up on with: “But I’ve been good.””source ↗

“I wish I could say the same, but our kids were so bad at a pre-try out basketball scrimmage that the coach cancelled and sent the kids home. They couldn’t even behave for basketball.”source ↗

“The problem with this student is he likes to play songs while working which is not allowed. I have repeatedly told him to stop and he would give reasons like it helps him focus and so on.”source ↗

“Since he wouldn't stop after being told I said I'll have to take it back. He didn't want to give it back so I tried to take it from his desk. He held on to it. I did not want to engage in a struggle especially in front of other students so I let him have it back.”source ↗

“Instead of suspending kids who are causing problems, admin is taking their word for that they didn’t do it, sending them back to class and moving along.”source ↗

“I can’t get through a lesson without yelling over them to stop talking and sit down the entire time.”source ↗

“I cannot stand the babysitting I have to do all day everyday.”source ↗

““You’re absent every day, and when you show up, you’re thrown out immediately.””source ↗

“My question is, wouldn’t it have been more appropriate to keep him in the office and could this have been a safety issue for me and other teachers that were present?”source ↗

“I don’t know how to feel about this.”source ↗

“I have noticed an increasing trend, however: my students seem much more bored, distant and disinterested than before.”source ↗

“Now, however, I honestly feel that I am teaching a bunch of corpses. All my students have the same bored, zombie-like facial expression throughout the entire class.”source ↗

“Yet, when I walk through the classroom and look at the work they're doing, many of them obviously don't fully understand the material. But still, they never ask for help.”source ↗

“No one checked on me. No one asked me if I was okay. They left, and I simply kept teaching, trying not to show my anxiety or upset about the situation.”source ↗

“I needed a safe space to be upset, to be human and not strong teacher for a moment. And I quickly realized that isn’t often socially acceptable in teaching.”source ↗

“I really just want them to sit down and do the work, instead of begging me every 10 minutes to go to the bathroom or if they can sit by their friends.”source ↗

“The second week is done and I am tired of fighting with them every day.”source ↗

“I am, like, at my end here.”source ↗

“I do want someone to please help me understand what the heck is going on in this child's head.”source ↗

“The student is still crying favoritism...”source ↗

“I don't get it.”source ↗

“I hate when my colleagues give out our "rewards" just because someone didn't curse them out that day.”source ↗

“I just find it draining how many children are so needy that they will constantly disrupt the class just to get an adult's attention.”source ↗

“Today was one of the worst days that I’ve had this year and it’s only the 3rd week.”source ↗

“I have a student that has been challenging since the beginning of the year. She has a hard time sitting still and has been leaving the classroom without permission.”source ↗

“Yea I’d be having a sharp word with the administrative team if they did that do me”source ↗

“my admin implemented a new rule last week: no more sending kids to the office except in extreme cases such as fights.”source ↗

“today, I had two students repeatedly smacking each other across the face, then running across the room to escape retaliation.”source ↗

“I tried calling one of their parents in front of them. mom has the school's number blocked. my powerlessness was on full display in front of the whole class.”source ↗

“the only other option I have (approved by admin) is to send the student(s) to another teacher's classroom, thereby effectively dumping my problems onto another teacher, who certainly has problems of their own.”source ↗

“how is this sustainable? the kids can do whatever they want and their only "punishment" is a 5 minute break from class!”source ↗

“I got thrown to the wolves, with the only "support" or advice being to get tougher and be sure to control my emotions.”source ↗

“I had an interview a few weeks ago for a middle school position, and the interviewer asked me what I would do if I noticed a student was sleeping or disengaged.”source ↗

“I sometimes feel like the adults really lack control or authority over the students, and it feels like the kids are running the show”source ↗

“I also don’t know what to do when these issues come up in those spaces because if admin isn’t doing anything about it, and kids see that, any attempt made by a teacher to correct this behavior is not going to be taken well”source ↗

“If a student is sleeping, I gently try to wake them. If that fails, I let them be.”source ↗

“No support from admin or district because it’s all about the money now. I’m 9 years into this district and I’m contemplating walking away at Christmas break. It’s miserable.”source ↗

“What does everyone do when a student copies another student’s homework when collaboration is not allowed? In the past I’ve given both students zeros on the assignment. Now I have a student saying they “didn’t know” the other student copied from them and wants credit. How would you handle this situation?”source ↗

“What can I do to get my grade up?”source ↗

“The kids don’t make it better. My last class is full of kids with misbehavior issues on top of my lessons feeling disorganized and loose.”source ↗

“When I came back apparently it was chaos and I was deeply embarrassed.”source ↗

“The only thing they respond to is someone yelling. I am tired of yelling. I am tired of preaching. I just want them to shut the fuck up and learn.”source ↗

“But this group of 4 kept on and had to be told multiple times yesterday until I threatened to send them all to ISS.”source ↗

“Today I separated them (something I've been threatening if they didn't chill out)”source ↗

“Of course they tried arguing ... I get that.”source ↗

“I can put on a tough and unbothered facade, but I struggle to let it go when I'm home. I tend to stay angry and ruminate into the evening.”source ↗

“Today was the roughest day I’ve ever had in six years.”source ↗

“Middle school PE teacher checking in here. I teach grades 6-8. My 6th and 8th grade kids are almost always fine and usually a delight to work with, but oh my goodness 7th grade is a nightmare.”source ↗

“They have the absolute worst attitudes in my classes.”source ↗

“I have two students in second grade who completely refuse to do almost ANY work in class.”source ↗

“When I go over to help them, I get yelled at.”source ↗

“This is a behavior issue as well and when I try to help them, it just seems to make it worse.”source ↗

“It's exhausting to get yelled at everyday.”source ↗

“This year honestly has me rethinking teaching altogether.”source ↗

“I remember a student asking me how they could bring their grade up....in December...after having not done any assignments at all and having skipped practically the whole semester.”source ↗

“So this is my 8th year, and I am feeling like I am hitting a wall here.”source ↗

“Without any warning, he will start screaming and ripping papers off the walls, dumping out bookshelves, throwing things, etc.”source ↗

“If it's a kid who likes to make a show of how bored they are to avoid work, I'm waking them up every time.”source ↗

“Had a student sleeping multiple days in a row, woke him up but it was hard to do and it was a little intimidating as he outweighed me by over 100lbs.”source ↗

“One of my students made herself throw up all over our class because I told her I wouldn’t change her hairstyle during our lesson.”source ↗

“Another student keeps leaving for actually 20+ minutes to the bathroom and he’s doing more than just #1 & #2 if you catch my drift.”source ↗

“Another student is actually bullying and has had cases opened about it but never enough evidence plus parents of course do not believe what is occurring is in fact bullying.”source ↗

“What works with them because I’ve tried kindness accommodating and that hasn’t worked. It has only emboldened them.”source ↗

“I’ve gone to the next step of following though the discipline plan and that has provoked them.”source ↗

“Do I put them in corner as they watch their YouTube and cuss along as they watch their videos because that’s all they want to do.”source ↗

“I call an administrator, but we are legally not allowed to hold them. We have been sued for holds, so the district has defacto not allowed them.”source ↗

“So I’ve been tutoring this girl who’s in grade 9 for about 2 months in mathematics as of now.”source ↗

“she was adamant in only doing her school homework in class and would tune out when I mention a misconception/ suggest more questions on that.”source ↗

“As such, I feel like our sessions aren’t adding much and personally feel bad for wasting her time alongside her parents money.”source ↗

“These kids are truly out of control, I already made one post about them on this sub so I won't get into it here!”source ↗

“Idk, I just didn't know what else to do after exhausting all attempts to gain control over them- hopefully that was "acceptable" to my admin.”source ↗

“So I have a student (Kindergarten) who likes to come up to my face and scream or sing loudly to get a reaction out of me.”source ↗

“I’m not sure what to do anymore because I’m trying to make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”source ↗

“Like I said, I brought this up to someone else…not much was done, so not sure what to do at this point.”source ↗

“Putting ESL, 10 IEPs, having to deal with kids who destroy the class and hit you (or worse) and still being expected to get everyone to learn”source ↗

“Can’t fail anyone even when deserved !”source ↗

“Extremely passive students that sit in class and refuse to participate in discussions, barely pay attention to instruction, and put in below minimum effort in their work.”source ↗

“And still, they don't change. They remain passive, and every answer they give is 'I don't know'.”source ↗

“I cannot handle the behaviour anymore. I have become a baby sitting service.”source ↗

“I am too busy dealing with the BS behaviour all day every day from every grade.”source ↗

“I’m a first year teacher genuinely at my wits end. I have tried everything possible with one of my classes and they are just completely unmanageable.”source ↗

“Their last three English teachers have quit because of this class.”source ↗

“I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack from stress every day.”source ↗

“My elementary kids are crazy- the attention span is horrible and I have to scream and threaten office / calls home to get them under control.”source ↗

“I hate when I notice a kid doing something good and call it out and I immediately get multiple ‘what about me!!!??’.”source ↗

“First year sixth grade teacher, my kiddos have been decently quiet for the first two weeks but now their “true personalities” have come out. I have a lot of kids in my first period who are disruptive.”source ↗

“I feel like my grip is starting to slip and my classroom is about to dive into chaos.”source ↗

“I have a student that has LOST all his CLASSWORK and HOMEWORK assignments. His mother has asked that we give the work to her. FUCK NO.”source ↗

“today was my first day with Pre-K. i totally get it.”source ↗

“What happens to students in your class when they throw a fit so large that they start hitting, kicking, biting, etc? What about spitting at somebody or demolishing a classroom?”source ↗

“I’m a first year middle school Spanish teacher and I guess I’m just looking for advice/reassurance because this week absolutely kicked my ass lol.”source ↗

“I’m trying to figure out procedures, consequences, organization, etc. while already teaching every day.”source ↗

“Classroom management is probably the hardest part. My 8th graders have their moments, but my 7th graders constantly talk/call out, get up, interrupt me, have side conversations, etc.”source ↗

“I really do like teaching and want to be good at this, but right now I feel like I’m building the plane while flying it.”source ↗

“My classroom management is still crappy and I’m afraid it’ll cost me my job this time: help?”source ↗

“I can’t get most of the kids to do anything by, and I don’t know what to do about it.”source ↗

“When I get to work I always have this terrible pit in my stomach waiting for the day to start and the torture to begin.”source ↗

“The big one is just a lack of accountability. Everybody gets passed now, and cheating is treated like a joke.”source ↗

“I am having some trouble with 3 students not completing their book work.”source ↗

“I am out of ways to support him at a second grade level because he does not understand what is even being taught to him.”source ↗

“I feel like I am loosing my mind and I am afraid to have admin come in and see how terrible it can be in my class.”source ↗

“I reported a handful of incredibly nasty bullying incidents from the same student, and the kid got pulled out once for a 5min convo and came right back to class.”source ↗

“I know how I feel about it. It’s bullshit!”source ↗

“The emotional toll of showing up every day, and being treated with constant disrespect when you’re just trying to help and do your job is immense.”source ↗

“He doesn’t do any work.”source ↗

“I don’t want that pattern to continue, however it’s super hard not to.”source ↗

“Here’s my thing, I just don’t like rewarding for the bare minimum.”source ↗

“Its my first year in education and i have a level 2 student who constantly elopes and does not have any one on one support, i have no other aids in my class so i cannot constantly go coax her back inside and leave my students alone, and my school offers no help or pointers aside from using prizes to motivate her to stay inside class”source ↗

“i am not trained in special ed to know how to handle these things”source ↗

“i also don’t know how to explain to my class when they ask why she doesn’t have to participate in the assignments they do without othering her”source ↗

“I have hated every second of it.”source ↗

“This week me and my partner teacher has had lunch duty and it has been a nightmare.”source ↗

“I had to yell really loud at them and it made me feel guilty for the rest of the day.”source ↗

“Honestly just having lunch duty makes me want to call in sick.”source ↗

“The amount of times I hear students say Idk really irks me, especially after i’ve explained the directions and reiterated It multiple times and practically gave them the answer.”source ↗

“Honestly it is so ridiculous like I am gonna crash out the next time I hear someone say Idk😭😭😭 I’m really contemplating my career choice.”source ↗

“So many students write IDK in the space where it says “What action did you commit that earned you a detention?””source ↗

“A lot of them made a point to try and ruin things for everyone else so they wouldn’t have to do anything.”source ↗

“Yes. Especially second half of 7th. They can be feral.”source ↗

“none of her teachers can get her to engage and know she has home life things so as long as she doesn’t disrupt class I mostly let her be.”source ↗

“she’s currently failing 7/8 classes due to refusal to engage and inlet students move to sit anywhere they want.”source ↗

“I beat myself up for loosening up on rituals and routines here and there, but sometimes it is just mentally exhausting to reinforce every single detail of the day.”source ↗

“the honeymoon period is over for me as well, lol”source ↗

“A lot excuses and stories and bullshit .”source ↗

“Sometimes no matter how much you put the material on a wiffleball stand, hand the kids a tennis racket, and put a beachball on the stand, the kids just refuse to participate.”source ↗

“And our time is better spent on those that are already engaged and who want to learn.”source ↗

“At this point I’m not even sure what PBIS is “supposed” to look like, but I know the way it’s presented and implement is flawed.”source ↗

“It’s become nothing but a data manipulation scheme.”source ↗

“I feel that one boy shouldn’t have chosen the subject.”source ↗

“Secondly I’m finding that they are not as capable as all the previous groups I’ve had at this level.”source ↗

“I am just not warming to them as a group.”source ↗

“I actually dread them.”source ↗

“I kept waking up with the screaming woohoos in the morning, and breaking down in my car, crying, every damn lunch time.”source ↗

“I’m very concerned about this development but I also really don’t want to be a nark teacher but I’m getting concerned about safety.”source ↗

“My students have been throwing chairs, screaming, throwing books at her, making jokes about her appearance, and today she took them outside for the end of the day and three kids ran off and left school grounds.”source ↗

“First day of teaching on Monday and I am going to throw up”source ↗

“I am very nervous because I don't know how to manage teens and I have a lot og anxiety and might get a panic attack.”source ↗