Youths’ Rudeness in Classroom ‘Significantly Higher’ Following COVID-19 School Shutdowns: Study

Youths’ Rudeness in Classroom ‘Significantly Higher’ Following COVID-19 School Shutdowns: Study
An empty classroom at Eric Hamber Secondary School in Vancouver on March 23, 2020. Alberta classrooms could be just as empty come next week if the Alberta Teachers’ Association does not reach a deal with the province. Teachers are expected to strike on Oct. 6, 2025.The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward
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Children have “forgotten how to be in school” following the extended shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a significant increase in disruptive behaviours after returning to the classroom, a new study finds.

Published last October in the journal School Psychology, the Canadian study compared student behaviour before and after the pandemic using surveys of 308 adolescents aged 9 to 14 and observations from 101 primary school (Grades 1 to 3) teachers. It found that classroom incivility—rude behaviours such as interrupting lessons, ignoring rules, and showing disrespect—was significantly higher in the fall of 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels in fall 2019.