I certainly agree with you there. I am a high school English teacher and see what you are describing all the time. It is so hard to pinpoint the problem, but it seems that some winners are:
The media: which does, indeed, influence our students/kids. I hear quotes from movies, TV, music, and video games all the time at school.
Our society: What you described about teachers not being able to do much to students when they act out is dead on. The discipline we have at our school is very minimal. And parents may even try to fight the system so that there is almost nothing that can be done to a student.
Kids teaching kids: Since there is one teacher for every 30 or so students, that means that most of what a student hears and learns at school comes from other students. I may try to teach them, but once they leave my classroom I have no place in their lives. Their peers, however, are an ever-present influence, and, quite frankly they care more about what another student thinks about them than their teacher who they will not see after this year.
Parents: Respect for adults and authority is seldom taught at home. Parents seem to feel that they cannot discipline a child when he or she is disrespectful. They are afraid they will scar them too much emotionally. I have two small children at home, we are not going down that road.
The schools and government policies: No one gets off the hook. Yes, being a teacher I see a lot of problems with the way things are done. Most teachers are trying their best, but it seems to be all uphill. We teach large classrooms full of children who have little or no respect for authority and are trying to teach students who may have a 5th grade reading level as well as others in the same class who are reading college level material. Then we are told we must watch for signs of abuse at home, know all kinds of safety procedures, teach all day, grade and come up with inspiring lessons at night while taking classes to keep up to speed on new techniques and teaching methods. Keep in mind you only get paid for the time you are teaching. Teachers must keep a lookout for certain diseases, any gang related paraphernalia (clothing, symbols, etc.) being displayed, weapons, and watch for students who seem to be emotionally distressed.
And sometimes it is the teacher's fault. The preparation for beginning teachers could certainly be better. It takes several years before a teacher can become that good at teaching. Most seem to feel that they should come out of the chute having years of lessons ready for all possible classes they will teach and know all the ins and outs of their profession as well as how to actually handle unruly students. That just isn't true. Everyone has to start somewhere. Most teachers will tell you that they were not very good for the first few years as they tried to get oriented to the profession and create a bank of lesson plans.
In case it looks like I am diverting all responsibility here, I must admit there are teachers who do not care passionately about their job and the students. From my experience they do not seem to be in the majority.
