Student Behavior: Apathy
Student behavior continues to be an area of concern for educators as they express apathy and a lack of concern about their actions.
- “The apathy from students lately is at an all time high. How can we convince students to care?” —High School English Teacher in Virginia
- “High school teacher: lack of self-regulation (especially with cell phones, tech devices) and a general sense of apathy among even my brightest students (my honors class had 22% turn in rate on a major assignment last week). Beyond that, kids in the hallway being blatantly disrespectful.” —High School Teacher
- “Looking for best tips to help decrease student apathy and lack of effort. Trying so hard to have downtime, choice, connections, care but some of the apathy and effort is shockingly low.” —Teacher
- “All behavior is a form of communication. Kids are not ‘bad’ for the sake of being bad. There is always an underlying reason. Love them enough to find the root cause and help them rise above it. That’s when you know you’re in the business of changing lives.” —Elementary School Assistant Principal in Alabama
- “Different approach with this answer. I’m challenging my staff to reflect on their biases around behavior. Many teachers take behavior personally. Most behavior is caused from an unmet need. We need to fill those needs not punish them. Prevention over punishment.” —Elementary Principal in New York
- “What’s on my mind regarding education now? My largest concern is the student apathy that has permeated the student body since the pandemic. Before and after the pandemic the kids drive to learn has been stymied.” —High School Math Teacher in Texas
- “Whether you see it or not, the mental health crisis that is going on is crumbling our kids. Us educators have a front row seat to this crisis that attacks our students and to say it’s painful to watch is an understatement.” —High School Teacher in Kentucky
- “Students as a whole do not care about school the same way students of the past did. I’m not saying that’s good or bad, but the system is going to have to adjust or crumble…” —High School English Teacher in Texas
- “My 13 year old and friends: -realize doing well in school does not mean they’ll be successful -very conscious of negative outlook for their future -motivated when school work is relevant-will not do all homework. What’s the point? -grades are barriers.” —Educator in Texas
- “I had hope until this year. I just couldn’t anymore. There’s nothing worse than putting your heart and soul into teaching when there is a critical number of students in class who just don’t care. No matter how caring. No matter how creative the lessons. The system needs reform.” —Teacher in Oregon
- “Many are very apathetic about education anymore. I think a lot has come from the pandemic, but also the push for standardized tests. In the long run, those do not matter, yet it is what school boards want – high scores…while still pushing relationships.” —High School ELA Teacher in Missouri