There has been a lot of talk in the media in the last year about the so-called "Great Resignation" where people are quitting their jobs, or just not returning after the Covid lockdowns. There's been all sorts of speculation about the causes and so forth, but there is one aspect of this that has gone under-reported, and that is the "Great Resignation" that is taking place in our schools - specifically among our students. Of course, they aren't allowed to just quit or walk away their jobs as students, so they continue to show up in body, but with a significant lack of engagement.
I've been subbing for about 18 years and I've never seen the general apathy among students as bad as it has been this year. I'm sure part of the issue is that our state in its infinite wisdom decided that because of Covid, nobody can fail! Everybody passes, so there are kids who spend a year without even logging in during distance learning but there were no consequences - other than that they have been totally sapped of motivation to achieve anything. I spoke with yet another teacher yesterday about the struggles of dealing with these demotivated, checked-out students. Many teachers are considering retiring or just doing something else because the situation has become so frustrating. Which is a shame, because these are some really great teachers that we are going to lose.
The other ones I feel really bad for are the students who are engaged and motivated. They often pay the price for their peers who are not only disengaged but often disruptive. But it's very difficult to remove the disruptive students long-term due to policies and parents.
It's a no-win situation for schools. I don't know what the answer is. But it's a problem that's only getting worse. Hopefully the motivated students will persevere and the teachers will be able to do the same.
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