‘I can’t do my job like this': Teacher shares declining interest in job due to students phone usage, leading to discussion about teaching

Eleonora Bader

Feb 13, 2024 12:00 PM EST

I can't begin to imagine what it's like to teach nowadays.

I witness kids' behavior in public and it already infuriates me. I can't fathom what it's like to teach them. Here, let me tell you a story. One day, I was ordering a hamburger at a place, and in the line before me was a tired, worn-out dad, and his obnoxious child with their eyes glued to the phone. The dad had to repeat, 'What would you like to eat' about ten times before the kid stopped ignoring him and mumble-replied. Then the kid began screaming about something they didn't want in their hamburger, all the while staring at the screen in their grubby little hands. They didn't even lift their gaze while their mouth was making these loud noises.

Then they sank onto the ground, phone still in hand mind you, and continued their tantrum, while the dad tried desperately to get them under control. Yes, parenting is hard. And yes, this kid was a menace. Still makes me angry to think about it. Back when I was throwing tantrums, at least I would look my mother in her eyes as I was doing it. One fed-up teacher took to Reddit to complain about kids and their phone usage in class, and other teachers chimed in with their thoughts. Adios, and next, check out the most entertaining LinkedIn posts of the week.