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Teachers across Ontario have been noticing a concerning rise in rudeness within classrooms since the pandemic. Marylinda Lamarra, a secondary school teacher in the York Catholic District School Board, describes how students now feel empowered to speak out at any moment, even during lessons. This has led to a significant increase in outbursts and a lack of attention and self-control among students. As she told The Current, "Students struggle to pay attention through a whole lesson and can't seem to manage their own disruptive behavior."

"Pandemic Unleashes Rudeness in Classrooms - What Can Be Done?"

Post-Pandemic Classroom Disruptions

A recent study from Brock University has shed light on this issue. Researchers surveyed 308 Ontario kids aged nine to 14 and found a substantial increase in classroom incivility. This includes behaviors such as texting in class, interrupting teachers, and packing up early. The data from 2022 was compared to surveys conducted in 2019, and the results were clear - there has been a significant rise. Natalie Spadafora, who led the study, emphasizes that these seemingly minor annoyances can have negative consequences. "Cumulatively, we know from teachers, students and our research that it can have negative effects," she says. "If left unchecked, it can escalate to higher level anti-social behavior." 2: The pandemic shutdowns and remote learning have played a significant role in this spike, especially for younger students who missed out on learning proper classroom behavior. As Lamarra points out, "They were at home behind a screen with no classroom instruction or decorum. They could do what they wanted, and they seem to have brought that into the classroom." Educators are now facing the challenge of getting students "back on track," but it's not an easy task.

Generational and Technological Factors

Spadafora believes that the pandemic is not the only factor at play. Generational and technological changes have also contributed to the increase in disruptive behavior. For example, texting during class was not a common issue ten years ago but is now a significant problem. She explains, "Behaviors change over time. Ten years ago, texting during class wasn't an item on our scale, but now it definitely is." 2: These issues are not necessarily intentional acts of harm. Spadafora gives the example of students packing up books before a lesson ends because they are eager to get to recess or go home. While they are focused on their own social lives, they forget about the impact on the group dynamic.

Teaching Civility in the Classroom

Lamarra believes that getting back to the basics of teaching civility is crucial. She emphasizes that parents also have a role to play in teaching their kids how to behave in the classroom and in society. "We need to give them those skills," she says. Spadafora agrees, stating that "civil children means civil adults, and that's what we all want." 2: It is essential to address these issues early on to prevent bad behavior from carrying over into wider society. By fostering civility in the classroom, we can set students on a path to becoming respectful and responsible adults.