Veteran teachers are now saying something they almost never said before.
A North Carolina middle school teacher just described kids sleeping through class, skipping, arguing, losing materials, and showing up late—if they show up at all. Teachers with 30 years in the classroom told her they’ve never seen behavior like this.
That matches the latest Education Week survey: 75% of K-12 educators named student behavior their top concern for the 2026-27 school year. 71% also flagged low engagement. Most said it’s gotten worse.
This isn’t one bad classroom. Multiple national surveys now show the same pattern years after schools reopened. Attention is shorter, routines take more effort, and the old discipline tools don’t land the same way.
The data is no longer in dispute. The only real question left is why the slide has continued—and what actually reverses it.
American middle school teacher in North Carolina says it’s never been this bad
She’s losing it because she’s never had kids behave this badly, “I have 30 year teachers telling me they've "never seen anything like it." My god people. What the ACTUAL F*** are we doing?!”
“They're sleeping, skipping, getting suspended, leaving early, goofing off, straight up not doing the work, making up excuses, arguing with each other, losing materials, showing up late, if they show up at all.! could go on”
She actually says she will go “insane” if she has to keep teaching because of how kids act now on school
It never used to be this was but unfortunately this is the new normal in America
There was a national poll:
- 75% of K-12 educators surveyed by Education Week identified student behavior as their top concern for the 2026-27 school year
- 71% says their biggest concern is also low student engagement
- 64% of teachers reported overall student behavior has worsened compared to previous years
- 35% saying it is “a lot worse” than last year