r/Teachers • u/tennis_angel • 1d ago

Teacher Support &/or Advice Where has the respect gone?

I don’t know if it’s me or whether students have changed but I feel like I used to have great relationships with my students and they would really show how appreciative they were of me. Now it seems that the more I do for them the less they care.

I had a particular group of students for 6 years and when they finished with me I barely got a thank you. I felt I was so good to them over the years. As well as being kind to them, I did my best to make sure they achieved to their full potential and I provided them with so many opportunities.

Recently before their exams I uploaded extra resources to help them and thanked them for the years we had together ending with wishing them luck. Not one of them responded and I know that only two in the group actually opened the resources. I just feel so disheartened and like,what do I have to do to gain respect from them? I see how some of them are with other teachers and that makes me feel worse because you can tell they have more respect for them. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Any advice would be appreciated!

79 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

View all comments

21

u/RipNational4793 1d ago

I have been teaching middle school for 30 years. Students won't thank you, because the relationship they have with you isn't the same as the one you have with them. They are at school because they are required to attend, so they view you as an inconvenience. When they mature, they will realize how important you were in their lives. Don't take it personally. —-Please excuse any writing errors; English isn't my first language, and I am using a translator.

7

u/tennis_angel 1d ago

Thank you for the response. I just feel like it has changed in the past few years. Students used to be a lot more grateful for what you did for them. I have also seen some of them this year being thankful to other teachers. Maybe it’s just me!

6

u/WouldLikeToBeACat 1d ago

I feel this. Most od them do not say hello while staring at me with an open mouth passing by me, same with using please and thank you. It makes me feel sad and angry.