
The behaviour backslide: Why classrooms everywhere feel louder, rougher—and what’s driving it
Student conduct is slipping worldwide, phones flashing explicit videos mid-lesson, escalating verbal pushback, even alcohol and vapes in backpacks. Teachers feel their authority thinning while many parents remain out of sync with day-to-day realities. This article unpacks the three forces fuelling the behaviour crisis—digital immersion, diluted discipline, and shifting family engagement—and explores what schools can do next.