If you’re a high school teacher, you’ve probably noticed it: high school students today seem more apathetic, disengaged, and disrespectful than ever before. And it’s not just you—it’s happening everywhere. What’s behind this troubling trend, and more importantly, what can we do about it?

The Internet and AI Are Changing What Students Value

In today’s digital age, students have the world at their fingertips. If they need to solve a quadratic equation, ChatGPT can explain it faster than any teacher. Want to learn about history? YouTube and TikTok deliver bite-sized, engaging videos in seconds. This shift means students often feel they don’t need school to learn what matters to them. Worse, they struggle to see how much of what we teach connects to their goals or interests. For many, the internet has become their primary teacher, guide, and inspiration.

The Pandemic Amplified Existing Issues

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t create student apathy or disrespect—it accelerated it. Months (or even years) of remote learning allowed students to tune out, mute their teachers, or skip class entirely. This experience reshaped how they view school, authority, and structure. Many returned to the classroom with little patience for traditional rules and expectations, finding it hard to adapt to a system that now feels irrelevant to their lived experience.

Eroding Respect for Authority Figures

This isn’t just a school problem—it’s a societal one. Over the past decade, respect for authority has declined in nearly every arena, from politics to law enforcement to education. When students see adults disrespecting one another on social media or in the news, they internalize those behaviors. Combine this with their access to endless information online, and traditional authority figures, like teachers, face an uphill battle to maintain credibility.

What Can We Do About It?

While the challenges are real, they’re not insurmountable. The solution doesn’t lie in resisting technology or doubling down on outdated rules. Instead, it’s about meeting students where they are and building authentic connections. Here’s how:

1. Make Learning Relevant

Students need to see the value in what they’re learning. Show them how classroom content ties to their goals, interests, and future. Relevance sparks curiosity, which leads to engagement.

2. Earn Their Respect

Respect can no longer be demanded—it must be earned. Treat students as young adults, not children, and foster a partnership in learning. When respect is mutual, the classroom dynamic transforms.

3. Shift the Focus from Authority to Relationships

Today’s students are more likely to respect individuals who show respect to them first. By focusing on building genuine relationships, teachers can create an environment of trust and engagement that encourages students to rise to the occasion.

A Call to Action

Reversing this trend won’t happen overnight, but small, intentional changes can make a big difference. Let’s work together to create classrooms where respect and engagement thrive.

Want more tips on fostering respect and building connections with your students? Download our free guide, Building Positive Relationships with High School Students. Together, we can bring respect and enthusiasm back into our classrooms.

Visit www.respectrevolution.org/join to get started today. Let’s make a difference—one classroom at a time.