Have the teachers gotten worse over the years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

You asked why they’re not respected. Just because you don’t mind the hypocrisy doesn’t mean others admire it.

I suspect most people are reasonable adults and won’t have a problem with teachers taking their earned leave. Most people aren’t going to demand that teachers forfeit their own lives to the job.

And there’s no hypocrisy because students and teachers don’t fall in the same category. One is a working professional, most often with at least a masters degree. The other is a child.

And the child of a teacher is…what? Because they post these photos with their kids, who are (in theory) supposed to follow the same rules as the other children.

Teachers yield a position of respect when they behave this way. Its silly for them to then come and complain how no one respects them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

[Anonymous]

No, parents have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, parents have.

Have you ever observed a classroom? There is a whole lot of nothing going on. The day is filled with videos and gaming apps. Little to no actual teaching happening. Teachers don’t even read anymore. They play a recording.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Veteran teacher here.

The younger teachers coming in are just as competent and just as ambitious as those of us who started 20-30 years ago.

The difference is they are under considerably more pressure with considerably less support.

The teachers haven’t changed. The job has.

+1000

[Anonymous]

I think the issue with teachers leave is that subs are the worst and kids aren’t learning anything. The rest of us use our annual leave for all the random days school is closed (like the second Election Day in a school year!) because we have no choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

That’s all very nice. But when your students are being taught by subs for the fourth time that month, you can’t expect the narrative to be about your professionalism, dedication, and work ethic.

AI is another example. Teachers tell students they can’t use it, and then post obviously AI generated slides.

Teachers are on their cell phones all day in school.

These hypocrisies add up, and families do not consider teachers credible, and they certainly don’t have the respect and authority they did in my childhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

That’s all very nice. But when your students are being taught by subs for the fourth time that month, you can’t expect the narrative to be about your professionalism, dedication, and work ethic.

AI is another example. Teachers tell students they can’t use it, and then post obviously AI generated slides.

Teachers are on their cell phones all day in school.

These hypocrisies add up, and families do not consider teachers credible, and they certainly don’t have the respect and authority they did in my childhood.

Are you the poster from above, saying that Gen X and Boomer teachers were more respectable?

I don’t see what you see, and I actually work in a school. Teachers instruct students in how to use AI. Teachers place their phones in the same wall pockets as the students, to model behavior.

And yes, teachers use their granted leave. Sometimes because they’re sick. Sometimes because they have an event that can’t wait until summer, like taking care of a family member in the hospital. Sometimes it’s because they want to celebrate a part of their life that isn’t teaching, because they have loved ones.

When you stop looking for reasons to disrespect teachers, you open yourself up to seeing them as hard-working professionals balancing a ridiculously hard job as well as the challenges of home life. And then you can find reasons to respect them. But it starts by removing the filter from your own eyes that makes you want to see them in one bad light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

That’s all very nice. But when your students are being taught by subs for the fourth time that month, you can’t expect the narrative to be about your professionalism, dedication, and work ethic.

AI is another example. Teachers tell students they can’t use it, and then post obviously AI generated slides.

Teachers are on their cell phones all day in school.

These hypocrisies add up, and families do not consider teachers credible, and they certainly don’t have the respect and authority they did in my childhood.

Are you the poster from above, saying that Gen X and Boomer teachers were more respectable?

I don’t see what you see, and I actually work in a school. Teachers instruct students in how to use AI. Teachers place their phones in the same wall pockets as the students, to model behavior.

And yes, teachers use their granted leave. Sometimes because they’re sick. Sometimes because they have an event that can’t wait until summer, like taking care of a family member in the hospital. Sometimes it’s because they want to celebrate a part of their life that isn’t teaching, because they have loved ones.

When you stop looking for reasons to disrespect teachers, you open yourself up to seeing them as hard-working professionals balancing a ridiculously hard job as well as the challenges of home life. And then you can find reasons to respect them. But it starts by removing the filter from your own eyes that makes you want to see them in one bad light.

Crazy counterpoint if you can see around your own filter: some teachers use phones and AI and absences inappropriately. In a world of social media that conducts spreads much further and has a larger reputational impact than the one teacher who is bucking the administration on screen time or the one who is really focused on handwriting notes. Since EVERYONE knows about the Disney trip and the AI slides (not to mention the abuse scandals), total respect for teachers diminishes.

[Anonymous]

This is something Gallup studies. In 2009 (pre-pandemic) grade school teachers were seen as having high levels of ethics and honesty by 74% of the population. In 2024 it was only 61% and its likely to continue to fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

That’s all very nice. But when your students are being taught by subs for the fourth time that month, you can’t expect the narrative to be about your professionalism, dedication, and work ethic.

AI is another example. Teachers tell students they can’t use it, and then post obviously AI generated slides.

Teachers are on their cell phones all day in school.

These hypocrisies add up, and families do not consider teachers credible, and they certainly don’t have the respect and authority they did in my childhood.

Are you the poster from above, saying that Gen X and Boomer teachers were more respectable?

I don’t see what you see, and I actually work in a school. Teachers instruct students in how to use AI. Teachers place their phones in the same wall pockets as the students, to model behavior.

And yes, teachers use their granted leave. Sometimes because they’re sick. Sometimes because they have an event that can’t wait until summer, like taking care of a family member in the hospital. Sometimes it’s because they want to celebrate a part of their life that isn’t teaching, because they have loved ones.

When you stop looking for reasons to disrespect teachers, you open yourself up to seeing them as hard-working professionals balancing a ridiculously hard job as well as the challenges of home life. And then you can find reasons to respect them. But it starts by removing the filter from your own eyes that makes you want to see them in one bad light.

Crazy counterpoint if you can see around your own filter: some teachers use phones and AI and absences inappropriately. In a world of social media that conducts spreads much further and has a larger reputational impact than the one teacher who is bucking the administration on screen time or the one who is really focused on handwriting notes. Since EVERYONE knows about the Disney trip and the AI slides (not to mention the abuse scandals), total respect for teachers diminishes.

Sure, some teachers do. The difference between us is that I don’t condemn the entire profession for the actions of the few. I had a lousy, negligent, and lazy doctor once who missed a serious issue during my exam. I don’t think she represents the medical profession as a whole. That would be extremely irresponsible and short-sighted of me, to judge the whole based on her inaction.

I do know a teacher who took a Disney trip during the school year. I also happen to know the deeply tragic family experience that sparked that trip. I’m not going to fault her for choosing life and love over 3 days at work. But someone from the outside probably condemned her for that, too.

[Anonymous]

No, not from what I’ve seen. My daughter’s 11th grade science teacher is 22. She’s a great teacher, very organized, and teaches in a rigorous way.

[Anonymous]

Teachers get anywhere from 1-5 days personal leave in a year, depending where they work. Any additional leave is sick/bereavement/fmla.

So the idea that teachers are spending multiple week long vacations at Disney is just not true.

[Anonymous]

I think there are a lot more inexperienced teachers than before. It’s simply not as competitive of a job anymore. Enrollment in teacher prep programs is down about 30 percent from 2010.