Do students participate in class discussions anymore?

[Anonymous]

I have noticed a drop in class participation as a teacher. I think it is due to our current climate. I think kids are afraid to voice their opinions. They fear the crazy mob that cancels people. I am sure their parents also tell them to be quiet.

This. It is telling who speaks out. They feel like they can’t offer a different perspective. Sadly, I agree with them.

[Anonymous]

My son is so annoyed during discussions. He said that instead of staying on topic a couple of kids in every class want to make it about them, so they monopolize the conversation and talk about their either extremely liberal views, extremely conservative views, or just really odd views.

For example, one student is a witch and wants to tie every discussion to the plight of discrimination against witches. So a student comments about something that has nothing to do with witches but somehow the witch ties it something "witchiness". He thinks the teachers are afraid to shut her up because she might complain or start to cry. So he doesn't see the point in talking in class.

This seems so strange typing it out and I at first didn't really believe him but then I was driving my son and several kids and they started talking about how the witch once again monopolized the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don't drive. They don't do as much drugs, or drinking. They are not even having sex like we did. So yeah, Gen Z are zombies now with their phones.

LOL tell me you haven't talked to high schoolers without telling me. I can assure you that plenty of HS'ers continue to participate in the time-honored traditions of getting high and trying to get laid.

Source: Am high schooler, have eyes.

Your anedotal evidence is not representative of the countless studies, surveys, and research that says otherwise. Stay in school kid, and let the adults speak.

Congrats, you got outclassed by a high schooler.

[Anonymous]

When I was in school 30 years ago no one participated in forced in-class fake "discussions". Kids discuss things online in a real open environment for discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was in school 30 years ago no one participated in forced in-class fake "discussions". Kids discuss things online in a real open environment for discussion.

Sorry you went to a crappy school. Apparently you also didn’t learn that the internet is the opposite of an open environment for discussion. It’s a cesspool that forces people into silos.

[Anonymous]

I teach middle school. Kids have always been mean, but with social media their meanness never goes away online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was in school 30 years ago no one participated in forced in-class fake "discussions". Kids discuss things online in a real open environment for discussion.

Depends on the teacher and their subject. Social Studies and English classes probably do more often. You won't it less in math and sciences classes. My high school kid is on the reserve side and is introverted. I encouraged him when most teachers tell me he is quiet on back to school night and conferences. I think it is necessary as a skill because I want him to better express himself and advocate for himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is so annoyed during discussions. He said that instead of staying on topic a couple of kids in every class want to make it about them, so they monopolize the conversation and talk about their either extremely liberal views, extremely conservative views, or just really odd views.

For example, one student is a witch and wants to tie every discussion to the plight of discrimination against witches. So a student comments about something that has nothing to do with witches but somehow the witch ties it something "witchiness". He thinks the teachers are afraid to shut her up because she might complain or start to cry. So he doesn't see the point in talking in class.

This seems so strange typing it out and I at first didn't really believe him but then I was driving my son and several kids and they started talking about how the witch once again monopolized the conversation.

I know that the decline of discourse in classrooms is a serious topic, but this is hilarious

[Anonymous]

Yes, they do.

[Anonymous]

I’m a community college instructor. There is often one kid per class who asks a bunch of questions. My hunch is the others just don’t care. Like others said, they are addicted to their phones & care about little else.

On the first day of class I have each kid fill out a personal info sheet which includes their phone number. If a student ignores my instruction to put phones away, they usually end up looking at the phone on their lap, which is easy to spot.

Occasionally when this happens I will give the class a short problem to work on. While they are busy with that, I sit at my desk, retrieve the phone-on-lap kid’s number, & hold MY phone on MY lap. I send the kid a text saying “PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY!!”

The kid usually frantically looks around the room to see which student sent it. But everybody is working on my little task. Eventually the kid will look in my direction & see me staring directly at them. That usually fixes the problem.