School Policies: Student Behavior

Teachers are sharing their experiences with misbehavior in the classroom, while school leaders are discussing consequences and school policies.

  • “I don’t know a single person working in schools who isn’t seeing abnormally negative student behavior. It’s a national issue, which means it’s not the kids’ fault or the parents’ or the teachers’, and it won’t get better acting like everything’s normal.” —Middle School English Teacher in Minnesota 
  • “One of my classes today was so ill-behaved, so out of control, that they made me cry, then continued talking and shouting over me while I cried and didn’t even care. They have been the worst part of my day every day all year. Nothing I have tried has helped. I’m done.” —English High School Teacher in Texas
  • “There are all these breathless essays to explain the teacher shortage. Every single real life teacher I’ve talked to that’s leaving gives the same explanation: worsening student behavior. Make of that what you will. It needs to be said.” —Middle School English Teacher in Wisconsin 
  • “Many admin, leaders, & staff are still approaching student behavior like we are pre-pandemic. And those approaches were already problematic. Students were already not doing well. Until the systems causing these responses are addressed & fixed, the situation will only worsen.” —Educator in New York
  • “I’m just gonna say it: Giving consequences for misbehavior that is dangerous or highly disruptive is not carceral pedagogy. Telling kids after they misbehave ‘it’s okay. And here is a lollipop’ is not restorative justice.” —Middle School ELA Teacher in Mississippi
  • “If we never teach, model, and reinforce the appropriate behavior we want to see from our students are we creating safe environments for learning in our schools? Or merely, creating machines for discipline, punishment, and exclusion in our schools?” —Special Education Educator in Minnesota 
  • “Districts, ask your Principals when the last time was they CHANGED their discipline policies? Kids are not the same as they were in 1990 or 2000, when it was written. Why do you keep copying and pasting the same matrix into next years handbook?” —Administrator in South Carolina 
  • “The question shouldn’t be, ‘What consequence are we going to give?’ Instead, it should be, ‘How are we going to help improve this behavior?’ Consequences may happen, but that can’t be all we discuss. Stay focused on solutions, teaching, connecting, and growth.” —Principal in Virginia 
    • “I love this. Too many behavior conversations start with consequences or discipline. How do we start with behavioral improvement? That’s the mindset of a healthy school culture.” —Middle School Assistant Principal in Virginia
  • “School systems across the country are learning that they have to deal with student trauma one way or the other. Many are choosing apathy, finger- pointing, and punishment. Students and those who care for them daily deserve better. Much better.” —School Leader in Nevada

Conversations about student behavior have appeared consistently in the communities since January, with a 53.45% increase for educators and 84.66% for school leaders between January and March. These conversations have remained most prevalent in the teacher community as educators spend the most time with students and often witness these behaviors firsthand.

January 2022

March-April 2022

Methodology: These charts represent a sample of sentiment and mentions of 10,000 teachers and school leaders on Twitter in January 2022 compared to March and April 2022.