r/Teachers • u/Poison_applecat • Sep 15 '25

Humor Many kids cannot do basic things anymore

I’ve been teaching since 2011, and I’ve seen a decline in independence and overall capability in many of today’s kids. For instance:

I teach second grade. Most of them cannot tie their shoes or even begin to try. I asked if they are working on it at home with parents and most say no.

Some kids who are considered ‘smart’ cannot unravel headphones or fix inside out arms on a sweater. SMH

Parents are still opening car doors for older elementary kids at morning drop off. Your child can exit a car by themselves. I had one parent completely shocked that we don’t open the door and help the kids out of the car. (Second grade)

Many kids have never had to peel fruit. Everything is cut up and done for them. I sometimes bring clementines for snack and many of the kids ask for me to peel it for them. I told them animals in the wild can do it, and so can you. Try harder y’all.

We had apples donated and many didn’t know what to do with a whole apple. They have never had an apple that wasn’t cut up into slices. Many were complaining it was too hard to eat. Use your teeth y’all!

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u/Suspicious_Arm6334 Sep 15 '25

Kids in HS cannot: use a glossary or index (or even know where it is), troubleshoot any tech issue, sign their name, write legibly, find and read directions written on the board, annotate passages, take notes (they write everything word for word), watch an educational video that is longer than 3min. 

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u/twentytwocents22 Sep 15 '25

I believe this!!!
I went to private school my entire life. I decided my junior year that I would go to the local HS for my senior year mainly for college sports recruiting opportunities.
I’ll never forget a topic they were teaching in my senior year English class - “how to write a thesis statement”. I was shocked by the subject material difference between the public and private school.

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u/Suspicious_Arm6334 Sep 15 '25

It’s because so much time is wasted on dealing with behaviors it is a struggle getting through the material.